A TEENAGER accused of stabbing a Netherton father-of-two to death with a kitchen knife has told a jury "I did not do it".

Damilola Johnson and a 17-year-old teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been charged with the murder of 41-year-old Simon Johnson.

The prosecution allege that the pair killed the window fitter, who worked for Black Country Glazing in Cradley Heath, after he woke to find them stealing cannabis plants from his Cradley Road home.

But Damilola Johnson told Wolverhampton Crown Court: "I don't know what happened because I wasn't there.

"I did not punch Mr Johnson in the eye and I did not stab him. I did not do it."

The 19-year-old, who is not related to the victim, added: "I did not have a knife and I was not ready to use it if there had been a confrontation.

"I did not go into his bedroom and I was never in the house. I did not search the chest of draws, the wardrobe or a suitcase."

However the 17-year-old, who has also entered a not guilty plea, has alleged it was his accomplice in the burglary who must have lashed out with the knife.

He said that when Mr Johnson roused, he ran from the semi-detached property as fast as he could.

The teenager told the jury he then saw Damilola Johnson come out of the house with blood on his clothing and shoes.

Simon Denison QC, prosecuting, has claimed forensic evidence links Damilola Johnson to the murder, which came after the victim had shown his cannabis farm to a number of other teenagers.

Damilola Johnson, who agreed he had been convicted by two courts in the past of burgling properties in Halesowen and Brierley Hill and an attempted break-in at Kidderminster, said that at the time of the killing he must have been asleep.

It was his co-defendant who had been caught on CCTV leaving the house with another man, he said in evidence, adding: "They all put the blame on me. They are all part of a conspiracy to blame me for a murder I did not commit."

He said he knew nothing about reports there was £20,000 in cash hidden in the house and stressed: "I did not go to steal cannabis or the money."

Damilola Johnson, formerly of Sidaway Street, Cradley Heath, said his fingerprints later found on bags of cannabis taken from Mr Johnson's house came after he had handled them at a much later stage.

The trial of the two teenagers, which is expected to end next week, is continuing.