One of James Green's alleged killers shook hands with him no more than two weeks before he was fatally stabbed, a court heard today.

The pair also shared a drink, together with the 18-year-old also accused of the murder of Northfleet man Mr Green, pictured left.

Junior Couchman told the jury at Maidstone Crown Court - now sitting with 11 members after one was discharged - the two defendants had "no grievance whatsoever" against Mr Green, also known as Jay and Brixton Jay.

Mr Couchman, 19, from Maidstone, knew both Tommy Presley, 18, and the 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He told the court rumours had been circulating that Mr Green was a "grass" after he (Mr Green) and another man were arrested, only for the second man to be kept in custody.

The other man was a friend of both Presley and the juvenile, he said.

"There were people going around saying that Jay grassed on him," said Mr Couchman. "It was just rumours. We (himself, Presley and the juvenile) discussed it between us. They didn't say much about it."

Mr Couchman told the jury they saw Mr Green in Gravesend town centre "no more than" two weeks before he was killed.

He said they called Mr Green over to speak to him about "the situation".

Mr Couchman said he did not hear the conversation. "But I did see him (the youth) shake his hands," he added. "He said: 'I don’t think it was him who grassed.'"

James Green was found dead in Northfleet in June

Mr Couchman also told the court there was another occasion when they were all drinking with Mr Green and "everything seemed fine".

Under cross-examination, Mr Couchman agreed with the suggestion from Jonathan Higgs QC, defending the younger defendant, that "nothing was festering" and there was "no grievance whatsoever".

The court heard he had spent the afternoon and early evening of the alleged murder with Presley, the juvenile and several other friends.

Mr Couchman said everybody was in a good mood.

The following day he received a call to say the pair had been arrested for the murder of Mr Green.

Mr Couchman agreed when questioned by Mr Higgs that his first thought was: "You must be joking."

Mr Green, 29, was found with fatal knife wounds at a flat in Fishermen's Hill, Northfleet, on June 21.

Presley, of Bankside, Northfleet, and the other teenager, from Gravesend, deny murder.

The trial continues.