A man has told a murder trial he cannot remember stabbing a teenager during a violent confrontation between two groups.

Brian McHale, 21, told a court he "snapped" and "lost control" moments before stabbing Dale Bennett, 17, in the chest in Gorebridge, Midlothian, in February last year.

On Monday, the High Court in Edinburgh heard McHale admitted killing Mr Bennett just after a street fight involving groups of young men from Gorebridge and nearby Mayfield.

McHale told defence advocate Mark Stewart QC that although he has admitted stabbing Dale, he couldn't remember doing it.

He told the court: "I can't remember stabbing anybody. I was angry. I snapped. I can't explain it any other way."

McHale was giving evidence on the sixth day of his trial. He denies murdering Mr Bennett, a steeplejack, at Newbyres Crescent, Gorebridge on February 12, 2011.

On the first day of proceedings, McHale tried to plead guilty in front of the jury to a lesser charge of being guilty for the culpable homicide of Dale. However, prosecution advocate Gary Allan QC refused to accept the plea, leaving McHale to stand trial on the charge of murder.

Before the start of the defence case, Mr Allan told the court he was no longer pursuing a charge which said McHale assaulted Aaron Pearson six days before the alleged murder took place.

The crown also dropped a charge which alleged McHale, who is originally from Gorebridge, committed a breach of the peace in Newbyres Crescent on the day that Dale died.

On Monday, McHale told defence advocate Mark Stewart QC that on the night Mr Bennett died, he was forced to run into a house in Newbyres Crescent after becoming involved in a fight with a group of youths from the Mayfield area.

He said the young men threw bottles and shouted threats at him and a group of friends.

When he took shelter in the property, some young men from the Mayfield group tried to get into the house to attack him. He could also see some members of the group vandalise a car that was parked in the street.

McHale said at this point he "snapped", went outside with a knife and stabbed Dale.

Although he couldn't recollect attacking Dale, he told the court he accepted he was responsible for his death.

Mr Stewart asked him: "Did you intend to stab him?"

McHale responded: "No. I didn't choose to do it. I was terrified. I was scared. I lost control. I didn't choose to do it. I lost control. I snapped."

Advocate Depute Gary Allan QC asked McHale whether he had "lost all reason" when he stabbed Dale Bennett.

He told Mr Allan: "I'm not denying the fact that it was me who gave him the fatal blow."

The trial continues.