Murder trial begins over 2007 fatal birthday party stabbing in Adelaide

A man standing trial for murder over a fatal birthday party stabbing almost 20 years ago was allegedly among a group of men who stormed the celebrations seeking "payback", a court has heard.

Kimlong Rim, 38, is standing trial in South Australia's Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to the murder of Thea Kheav, 21, outside a party at Parafield Gardens, in Adelaide's north, in December 2007.

Opening the trial on Tuesday, prosecutor Kos Lesses told the jury that while Mr Rim did not inflict the fatal stab wound, he was among a group of four men accused of murdering Mr Kheav.

He said Mr Kheav was a guest at the 18th birthday party, which he had attended with his brothers.

"An argument broke out with one of the Kheav brothers and one of the men from the accused's group," Mr Lesses said.

He told the jury that that man had left the party "in an angry state" but later returned in a convoy of cars with "a large group of men", including Mr Rim and three others allegedly involved in the murder.

"They arrived at that party as a group and it's alleged they disrupted the party as a group. It's alleged they were working as a team, or a group.

"As a result of that group attack, Thea Kheav was fatally stabbed and died at the scene of this birthday party."

Mr Lesses told the jury the altercation took part in two stages, beginning when Mr Kheav was first struck with a bottle while standing next to a woman.

The jury was also told the second stage involved Mr Kheav's attempt to flee into the backyard of the house.

Mr Lesses said Mr Kheav had tried to climb over gates, but he was pulled to the ground where he was "kicked and punched, along with being stabbed in the chest with a long-bladed knife".

Crime about 'payback', court told

Mr Lesses said that despite the efforts of paramedics, Mr Kheav was unable to be resuscitated.

His cause of death was later determined to be a single stab wound to his chest, but he also had other injuries on his body, including a cut to his face.

Mr Lesses said the alleged crime was "borne out of a retaliation".

"It's about an armed group of men who retaliated by attending as a group to disrupt the party and effect payback on one of the Kheav brothers," Mr Lesses said.

Mr Lesses told the jury the alleged murder weapon was never recovered but had been described as "looking like a machete".

Mr Rim's defence barrister, Ryan Williams SC, told the jury it was not disputed his client was at the party and had "engaged in deplorable behaviour", but he said Mr Rim was not a murderer.

"What is in dispute is this idea that he is a murderer," he said.

Justice Rachael Gray, who is presiding over the trial, urged the 14-person jury to keep an open mind until it retires to consider a verdict.

The trial is expected to continue for three weeks.