A man who denies the murder of a fellow Slovakian who was stabbed in the doorway of a Bradford house told a jury today he could have dropped a cigarette found nearby with his DNA on another occasion.

Stanislav Misko said at that time he would walk along Great Horton Road nearly every day and “I smoke heavily.” He said he also had been smoking when he went to the house earlier that night.

The prosecution claim the man who stabbed Marek Benak after he came to the door of a house in Great Horton Road in the early hours of October 23 last year was captured on CCTV smoking a cigarette and throwing the stub down before knocking on the door.

Under cross-examination by Graham Reeds QC prosecuting at Leeds Crown Court, Misko denied that man was him.

He told the jury he had left the address involved after Mr Benak and another man were involved in a fight earlier that night. He said he was back at his own flat in Horton Grange Road by 1am and did not go out again.

The prosecution allege he had argued with Mr Benak returned to his flat, armed himself with a knife and then went back to Great Horton Road and stabbed Mr Benak.

Misko, 48, denies the murder of Mr Benak who died from severe blood loss after the single stab wound to his abdomen cut into the aorta and a major vein.

Shown CCTV footage taken along the route between the two properties showing a man the prosecution say was carrying a knife Misko denied the person was him.

Mr Reeds asked how Mr Benak’s blood had got onto his T shirt as described by a forensic scientist, Misko said it was probably when he was at the house earlier that night and had tried to break up a fight between Mr Benak and another man.

“It must have come from then because when I left the house I wasn’t with him after that.”

Rupert Bowers QC said to Misko in re-examination: “What’s being suggested by the prosecution is the figure that goes on to stab Marek Benak on the video and is seen to throw a cigarette down they suggest that is you.”

“That’s not me,” replied Misko.

The trial continues.