A father of three was murdered during a frenzied and savage attack by his friend, a court heard yesterday.

Mr Tyson, 43, of Paisley Terrace, Carshalton, had his throat slashed and sustained multiple stab wounds to the neck, face and chest on April 26 2010 on Winchcombe Road in Carshalton.

Some of the wounds were so deep they penetrated his heart and liver.

David John Howard, 43, and William Scott, 54, both of Winchcombe Road, are jointly accused of his murder.

The court heard police had been called to Mr Scott’s house at 6.30pm, just a few hours before Mr Tyson died, after neighbours heard the men fighting.

But police left again after being told by the men they had just been play fighting.

Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, told the court the three men had been seen drinking together for most of the afternoon and evening on the day Mr Tyson was killed.

He said Mr Howard was a regular drinker who became unpredictable and volatile when drunk.

At 9.13pm, just under three hours after the police were called to Mr Scott's flat on Winchcombe Road, Mr Howard is alleged to have called emergency services to tell them there was going to be a knife fight between him and Mr Tyson and someone was going to die.

It was alleged he said: “I am going to kill the ****. I am about to ****ing cut his throat. I am not joking.”

Just six minutes later it is said Mr Howard called 999 again and said: “I have just massacred him with ****ing knives.”

Mr Howard, who had been released from prison just three days earlier, claims the pair had been play fighting when Mr Tyson went over the top.

Mr Howard claims he was acting in self-defence and feared for his life. But the prosecution argue Mr Tyson was unarmed and only only intended to engage in a fist fight with Mr Howard.

The prosecution also said Mr Scott was seen to kick Mr Tyson in the head after he had been stabbed.

Although the blow is not thought to have contributed to Mr Tyson's death, the prosecution argue Mr Scott was a willing assistant.

Mr Scott denies any involvement with the attack.

The case continues.