A 21-year-old man accused of the murder of a fisherman outside a Royal British Legion club told police he was acting out of self-defence believing his brother could be killed in a fight that had broken out, a court has heard.

Draven Jewell is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of the murder of father-of-one Max Maguire outside the club in Lymington in the New Forest.

He is also accused of attacking two friends of Mr Maguire, Luke Gray and Georgia Hole, during the incident shortly before midnight on October 22, 2021.

Read more: ‘Bickering’ over gas canister led to Lymington's man death

He has pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon – a Huusk chef’s knife.

His brother Garon Jewell, 19, was formally acquitted of his part in the incident after the prosecution offered no evidence.

The prosecution claims the fight broke out following a disagreement between two groups inside the pub after one challenged Garon Jewell over his age.

Tensions also rose over a nitrous oxide canister that Draven Jewell had found and brought to the club but refused to sell to the other group, which included the three victims, the court has heard.

Read more: Fisherman ‘murdered by brothers in Royal British Legion club after age row'

Mr Gray, 23, suffered two serious wounds to his lower back which required emergency hospital treatment and Ms Hole, 23, suffered a less serious injury to her chest, the court has heard.

Adam Feest QC, prosecuting, told the court Draven Jewell provided a prepared statement when he was questioned by police after the incident.

The defendant stated: “I had a knife with me as it was dark and I took it with me for protection.

Read more: Jurors told to find brother not guilty of murdering fisherman

“A fight broke out inside the British Legion. My brother, Garon, got attacked, he was on the ground and two guys were beating him.

“I was afraid they were going to kill him. It all happened so quickly, I felt if I didn’t intervene, they would kill him. I felt I had to protect my brother, so I grabbed the knife and I went in to protect him.”

He said he believed one of the other group had a knife, and added: “At all points I was acting in defence of my brother and myself.”

Draven Jewell, of Lymington, denies murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter of Mr Maguire, from Pennington.

He also denies the attempted murder of Mr Gray and two alternative charges of wounding Mr Gray.

The trial continues.

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