“I’VE never killed anyone,” a Turkish man accused of carrying a steak knife in public told a jury.

Suleyman Bulet, of Fairhaven Road, Bicester, was on trial at Oxford Crown Court after being caught with a steak knife in People's Park, Banbury, on September 19 last year.

The 43-year-old admitted to having a knife but not unlawfully. He said he was carrying the knife to ‘cut cheese and melon’ for his lunch.

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Giving evidence on Monday (March 18), he said: “I’ve never killed anyone. It’s quite a few lies, I don’t accept it [sic].

“I accept that I had the knife to cut fruits but not to injure or kill anyone. I haven’t done it up to now, I’m not going to do it now.

“I’ve never had a fight, I’m always trying to be someone who is more positive.”

The barrister prosecuting the case said: “The case against you is you had no good reason to have this knife.”

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Bulet said the smaller knives he usually used for cutting up his food were ‘rusty’ so he had to take a bigger knife to Banbury where he works part-time.

“I just took this one because we always eat melons and things, I’m not lying,” he said. “Whatever I say is the truth.”

He was found not guilty on Tuesday (March 19).

He will, however, be sentenced for possession of a Class B drug and criminal damage of a police cell.