Dad alerted to burglars raiding his family home thanks to Ring doorbell alert rushed there and stabbed one to death, court hears

A dad who was alerted to burglars raiding his family's home through a Ring doorbell camera rushed to the house and 'brutally and ruthlessly' stabbed one to death, a court heard.

Karl Townsend and his half brother Jamie Cunningham allegedly armed themselves with knives after being alerted to a break in at his property in Halewood, Merseyside, Liverpool Echo reports. Townsend is said to have shouted at three intruders to get out of his home, before stabbing Jordan Brophy in the face and head.

Prosecutors say one of those stabs through Mr Brophy's eye left a broken blade embedded in his brain. They allege Townsend and Cunningham left the scene but returned shortly afterwards, when Townsend then stabbed the 31-year-old in his jugular vein.

READ MORE: Man accused of murdering dad in Ancoats appears in court

Townsend, 32, and Cunningham, 23, who deny murder and possessing a bladed article, both went on trial yesterday (April 25) at Liverpool Crown Court. Richard Pratt, QC, prosecuting, said: "The prosecution case is that this was not a case of a householder in a state of fear and panic, reacting in a moment of terror to what he believed to be real danger. This was a brutal and ruthless killing, whether it be out of revenge or punishment, of a defenceless man."

The court heard Townsend lived in Beechwood Avenue with his partner Amelia Rigby and their child. On the evening of October 29 last year his girlfriend was out walking with their child and dog, while he was at his parents' house in nearby Penman Crescent, where Cunningham also lived.

Mr Pratt said Mr Brophy was "engaged in burglary" with others at Townsend's home. He said the property had a CCTV security system involving a Ring doorbell, meaning if there is an event,