The jury at Preston Crown Court have been told they will hear 127 transcript pages of tape involving the defendant, Liam Cromie, speaking with friends and relatives.

Gordon Cole QC, prosecuting, said the defendant is heard discussing a Lancashire Evening Post article published two days after Mr Cornall's death, headlined: "Boy finds six-inch knife hours after murder."

In fact, Mr Cole said, two knives were eventually found and this turned out not to be the one which had been used in the fatal stabbing.

The covert tape recorded a conversation between the defendant and a friend.

"They thought the police were saying the murder weapon may be the one the boy found", Mr Cole told the jury.

Cromie's friend, according to Mr Cole, is heard to tell him: "If they think that's the murder weapon, you're well away with it."

In earlier taped conversations, the defendant is heard to discuss items of clothing seized by police investigating the killing.

He is alleged to have told a friend: "I had that jacket, you know, when I did the murder."

In another conversation with his then girlfriend he is heard to say, Mr Cole told the jury: "I stabbed him."

He is also alleged to have spoken about moving to Ireland in order to get away from things.

The trial, expected to last for two weeks, has heard that 30-year-old Mr Cornall bled to death after being the victim of a single stab wound to his back.

He was walking to his home in Hesketh Close from Preston on a night in February.

The stabbing is believed to have been in or around Ribbleton Park.
The fatally-injured Mr Cornall managed to run to his home but died in hospital within hours.

The jury has been told that a gang of hooded youths on bikes had earlier that night been "intimidating" members of the public.

Mr Cole said the dead man had been "in the wrong place at the wrong time".

Cromie, 20, of Waldon Street, Callon, denies murder.

He claimed he was at his grandmother's home for much of the night.

(Proceeding)