The defence case in the murder trial of Damian Rzeszowski began in the Royal Court this afternoon.

The 31-year-old is accused of murdering his wife Izabela (30) and his children Kinga (5) and Kacper (2), as well as his father-in-law Marek Garstka (56), family friend Marta de la Haye (34) and her five-year-old daughter Julia with two knives. The victims died on 14 August last year.

Rzeszowski has denied the charges and has instead pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, a plea rejected by the prosecution.

The prosecution case concluded this morning and the defence started this afternoon.

• See Friday’s Jersey Evening Post for full report of Day 4 of the trial