A refugee accused of murder sobbed in the dock as he discussed how his parents were murdered by the Taliban.

Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai is charged with the murder of 21-year-old Thomas Roberts outside a Subway sandwich shop in Bournemouth, Dorset in the early hours of March 12 last year.

Abdulrahimzai, who is originally from Afghanistan, began to give evidence in his defence at Salisbury Crown Court today.

He described his parents being killed when the Taliban planted bombs at his family home, as they suspected them of colluding with American forces.

He said: "I have seen some explosions not very far away. There was an American base not far from where we lived and the Taliban would come and demand things and there would be fighting and gunshots.

He arrived in the UK in Poole, Dorset in the same month and told the authorities he was 16 when he was arrested, but the court has since determined that he is now 21.

Abdulrahimzai said it was normal for people in Afghanistan to not know their dates of birth due to a lack of education, and his uncle had told him the incorrect date.

The defendant, who was living in Poole at the time of the incident, denies murder and the trial continues.

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