Recorda Davey-Ann Clarke, 35, died in the presence of his girlfriend after a fight broke out between two groups of people on the corner of Willesden High Road and Linacre Road on December 28, the Old Bailey was told.
Earlier that evening, the couple had been on a night out to celebrate her birthday.
But the court heard how an “altercation” broke out in the early hours between two groups, which allegedly included Mr Clarke and 29-year-old Elyas Moussa.
It is alleged that during the argument, bottles were thrown.
At 4.08am, the couple walked away to Linacre Road, while an attacker, described as a Somalian male, followed them seven minutes later.
In the next minute and 55 seconds, Mr Clarke was fatally stabbed and the male, who wore a hood covering his head, had run away, it is alleged.
Police believe the attacker had hit the victim’s girlfriend two or three times and that Mr Clarke ran towards them to assist her.
It is claimed that a six to eight centimetre knife was pulled out by the attacker and that Mr Clarke was stabbed two-to-three times after they fell to the ground.
Medics tried performing open heart surgery on the victim in the ambulance, but he was pronounced dead at 5.29am before reaching hospital.
A post-mortem examination found the victim, who was known as Ricardo to friends and family, died from a stab wound to the left side of the chest.
A bloodstained knife was found stuffed in the bumper of a van in Linacre Road.
Moussa, of no fixed address, was arrested later on December 28 and subsequently charged with murder.
On Thursday, the defendant appeared at the Old Bailey by video-link from Wormwood Scrubs.
Judge Mark Dennis KC set a plea hearing for March 21 and a provisional three-week trial from October 13.
Moussa, who spoke only to confirm his identity, was remanded into custody.
Members of Mr Clarke’s family sat in the well of the court during the hearing.
