34-year-old man accused of stabbing boxing coach friend Ian Wright to death with a piece of glass threatened members of a ju-jitsu club before the murder, court heard

A man was fatally stabbed in the neck after his alleged attacker behaved aggressively during a night out, performing karate kicks on a dance floor and threatening to “give someone hell” with ju-jitsu, a court heard.

The Old Bailey heard that Ross Hamilton was “looking for a fight” and armed himself with a piece of glass before ramming it into the neck of 31-year-old Reece Newcombe.

Mr Newcombe, who trained celebrities including former footballer Ian Wright for a charity boxing match in 2014, was found after police were called to reports of a brawl on Richmond Bridge in south-west London in the early hours of November 26, 2022.

Prosecutor Louis Mably KC said the brawl was fuelled by “intoxicating aggressiveness” and Hamilton's decision to arm himself “changed everything”.

Earlier that evening, Mr Newcombe had watched the World Cup match between England and the USA in a fan zone at Richmond Park.

Reece Newcombe trained celebrities, including former footballer Ian Wright, for a charity boxing match in 2014

Jurors were told that he then went to Viva nightclub in Richmond, where he got drunk and “had a good time.”

Mr Mably said the alleged attacker, described as a bald man, was also in the club and was behaving “aggressively and erratically”.

The prosecutor said: “He appeared to be provoking people into doing karate kicks on the dance floor, putting his arm around them and behaving aggressively towards them.”

It was alleged that even after the club closed, he continued to behave aggressively and people left the establishment.

Mr Mably said: “He started confronting people and inciting them to go into an alley and fight with him.”

“He said, in his own words, 'I'm going to beat the hell out of you in jujitsu.' In short, the bald guy was ready to fight.”

Just before 4am, Mr Newcombe made the “tragic decision” to confront the man, who was already armed with a piece of glass, jurors heard.

After being stabbed in the neck, Mr. Newcombe's friends rushed to his aid.

Jurors were told that the bald man, believed to be Hamilton, later turned himself in to police.

Westside gym in Hounslow where Ian Wright was trained by victim Mr Newcombe

Mr Mably said: “The sad truth is that there would not have been that fight – it was an event fuelled by drunken aggression. It was not that the defendant was defending himself, but that two people were prepared to fight.”

“The defendant armed himself with a weapon and got the fight he was looking for.”

Hamilton, 34, of Isleworth, west London, denies murder, assault and possession of an offensive weapon.

The Old Bailey trial continues.