Ben Harvey tells court he 'does not remember' stabbing Chandler's Ford man

Ben Harvey took to the stand at Winchester Crown Court to explain that since June 11 last year he has had “snapshots” of his movements on the night in question.

In the early hours of that morning, William Rudiak, 26, was found dead at a home in Turin Court, after he was stabbed as he slept next to his girlfriend.

Adam Feest QC, defending, asked Harvey whether he was responsible for killing Mr Rudiak and attempting to molest a teenage girl on the same day.

(William Rudiak)

Harvey told the jury: “I do accept I that I must have been responsible.”

But when asked whether he had any memory of the incidents, the 22-year-old said: “No, I do not.”

Harvey said that when he woke and saw a post on Facebook about the murder, he had snippets of being in a bedroom and halfway through a window.

He said: “It was overwhelming fear I had in my head, I was fearful I was responsible for what happened. Upon seeing that post I started to have snippets of seeing picture memories - I couldn’t understand why I was having them.”

The court heard that since June, Mr Harvey has had more flashbacks, including seeing two people in bed, of him picking up a knife, and pulling away from a woman’s face.

The 22-year-old had also remembered seeing a young girl in front of him and “she appeared distressed”.

Harvey said: “I don’t know why it’s happened. I am appalled it has happened, it never should have happened. I just don’t know how to put into words to those people how sorry I am to these people.”

Kerry Maylin, prosecuting, questioned his memory, claiming that on the days leading up to the killing he visited the area around Turin Court a number of times to buy drugs, but he insisted that it was for walks around the estate.

And the jury was told that on June 9 Mr Harvey messaged former colleague Warren Bradbury saying: “What was the number of that dealer girl Lexi.”

Mr Bradbury suggested this could have referred to Mr Rudiak’s girlfriend, Alexandra Taylor, as the court was told she once used the name Lexi, and that in 2017 or early 2018 Harvey visited Turin Court one day to buy cocaine.

The court heard that on the night before the incidents, he used a new supplier for cocaine and bought 0.6grams of cocaine, spending £60, and went to his garage to take a line.

“It was a very shiny plastic-like appearance, broke into flakes rather than a powder. I observed it was different but didn’t think anything of it at that point,” Harvey said.

“It made me feel not euphoric but heavy, it was doing something, but it wasn’t a euphoric feeling.”

Harvey, of Ridges View, Little London, denies murder, trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The trial continues.