A MURDER trial jury has begun considering the case of a 28-year-old man accused of stabbing to death a father-to-be in front of his pregnant partner.

Former Huddersfield restaurant chef, Tinakorn Tuekpia, was knifed to death on his birthday.

Mr Tuekpia confronted robbers who had forced their way into the Bradford brothel where he was living with his partner.

Mr Tuekpia – who had worked at Thai Sakon on St John’s Road in Huddersfield town centre – allegedly hit one of the intruders over the head with a stick during the attack.

But the 42-year-old, who had lived at Longwood, was stabbed in the chest by one of the gang.

Three gang members have already admitted charges of manslaughter and conspiracy at Mr Tuekpia’s home in Little Horton Lane, Bradford, last August. But 28-year-old Syed Bukhari, who is alleged to have been the actual killer, has denied charges of murder and conspiracy to rob.

Bukhari, of Ringwood Road, Canterbury, Bradford, denies being part of the gang or being present at the scene when Mr Tuekpia was stabbed in front of his pregnant partner Nitaya Cheumeraeng.

The jury retired to begin their deliberations yesterday afternoon and will resume their discussions this morning.

The trial continues.