A teenage girl has given evidence against the man accused of killing Andy Campbell.

The girl, aged 15, told York Crown Court that defendant Thomas Edward Richardson insulted her younger brother near their homes on August 5.

"I went a bit mad," she said from the witness box. "I don't like anyone calling my brother anything."

She added that she told Richardson she would hit him if he repeated his insult.

"He raised his hands and goes 'come on then'," she said.

"I walked off."

Shortly afterwards,Andy Campbell was stabbed to death outside Richardson's home.

Richardson, 43, of Primrose Grove, Selby, denies murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter.

The girl said that she was with other children in Primrose Grove when adult resident Brian Lofthouse, spoke to her friend, also aged 15, about swearing.

The boy told the jury he had not been swearing.

The girl alleged Richardson arrived with his dog and said: 'They are low lives and I wish they would get out of this estate.'

She denied defence suggestions that she made up that remark, the insult to her brother and the comment 'come on then'.

The young girl said she saw her adult stepbrother arrive in a car and go towards Richardson's house. She heard banging and someone shouting 'Tom, come out.'

Earlier, Richardson's wife Susan had told the jury that children's football games against their end wall had 'ruined our marriage'.

Asked if the couple were still married she said: 'Just'.

"Thud, thud, thud, thud, that is all I get day in, day out, day in, day out", she said.

"If you try to explain it doesn't work, if you try to tell the children, it is 'F... off. We will play where we like'. Day in, day out, day in, day out, year in, year out".

She described how she and her husband had had a perfect family day out on August 5 and had planned to finish it by watching a DVD at home, eating garlic bread and drinking Bacardi mixers.

But as she cycled into Primrose Grove with the food she passed a police van. It was leaving the street with her husband after the stabbing.

The trial continues.

Updated: 08:42 Wednesday, January 30, 2002