A schizophrenic known as "Mad Mike" stabbed to death a father-of-two after an argument in the street, a court heard.

Robert McKenzie, 43, of Shelley Road, Worthing, denies murdering Chris Stones, 27, of Cowper Road, Worthing, on June 23 last year.

Yesterday, a jury at Lewes Crown Court heard McKenzie had been known to the mental health service in Worthing for some years, had alcohol problems and attended The Hollies, a drop-in centre for people with mental health problems.

Friends called him an "oddball" and said he had strange mannerisms such as closing his eyes as he talked.

The court heard he always carried with him a rucksack containing a Swiss Army knife, a second knife and a screwdriver and often wore a distinctive tank commander's hat.

He is alleged to have stabbed Mr Stones in Pavilion Road, Worthing, as the young father walked to a friend's house shortly after 11pm. The court heard the pair argued after McKenzie brushed past Mr Stones' friend, Polis Eisa, of Pavilion Road, Worthing, as they left another friend's flat.

McKenzie had spent the evening drinking Thai beer and saki and met Mr Eisa when he called round to see if the friend, Paul Stokowski, had "a smoke".

Prosecuting, Sally Howes QC said McKenzie had gone "completely over the top" when he stabbed Mr Stones.

She said it was not in dispute that McKenzie had stabbed Mr Stones but argued he intended to cause serious harm and was not acting in self-defence.

She said: "Quite clearly at the time of the confrontation the aggressor appears to be Mr Stones. But it was all gesture, it was all talk, it was all verbal. There was no actual laying on of hands. Was it therefore reasonable, even if Mr McKenzie felt threatened and felt he had to defend himself, was it reasonable to respond by taking out a knife and stabbing Mr Stones?

"He could have walked away, pushed him, punched him. Taking out a knife shows it was not an act of self-defence but a question of going completely over the top."

Defending, Jeremy Gold QC argued it was possible Mr Stones had impaled himself on the knife as he ran towards McKenzie.

McKenzie stared upwards as the jury heard the evidence, at one point wearing a pair of dark sunglasses.

The trial continues.