A factory worker from Telford accused of murdering a colleague has denied at the Old Bailey in London that he lunged at the victim with a knife.

Balraj Singh, 44, claimed 42-year-old Gurmukh Chahal was “accidentally” hurt with the blade as the two men fought, the court was told yesterday.

Mr Chahal suffered a punctured lung and a severed major vein during the alleged attack.

It is said to have happened at Mac Engineering on Bridge Road Industrial Estate in Southall, west London.

The incident is alleged to have happened on April 9 this year and the victim died on the factory floor in front of stunned workmates.

Singh, of Weavers Rise, Ketley Bank, Telford, denies murder.

The Old Bailey has heard Singh, who had worked at the factory 19 years, allegedly held a grudge towards father-of-two Mr Chahal after a row.

Singh, giving evidence through an interpreter, said the victim had been shouting and swearing and approached him before the fight broke out.

Miss Zoe Johnson, prosecuting, dismissed Singh’s claims as “complete nonsense” and said CCTV from inside the factory showed he was lying.

Singh said: “He was swearing and straight away we started grappling with each other. The whole thing happened very fast. He came towards me and I went towards him and then the fight took place.”

Miss Johnson, cross-examining, claimed the CCTV footage showed Mr Chahal was simply going about his work and was not interested in Singh at all.

She added: “It’s a complete lie to suggest that as a result of the deceased standing in front of a window and swearing that you came downstairs. You have been caught out by the CCTV.”

Singh replied: “I didn’t say any lies. He swore at me and in the fight, accidentally the knife hit him.”

Singh said that, as the CCTV footage was played in court, there were plenty of opportunities for him to have attacked the injured man further if he had intended to kill him.

The court has heard Singh would stay in the factory’s living quarters during the week.

It is claimed he attacked Mr Chahal with a knife he was using to prepare a potato and chickpea curry.

The trial continues.