BOSTON -- A former Harvard graduate student convicted of murder took the stand Wednesday in his re-trial.

NewsCenter 5's Amalia Barreda reported that Alexander Pring-Wilson told the court that he feared for his life. Pring-Wilson said he was beaten by Michael Colono, 18, and his cousin, Samuel Rodriguez, on a Cambridge street in April 2003. Officials said Pring-Wilson stabbed Colono several times in the chest and abdomen.

"Because I was afraid that the men who were beating me would not stop until I was killed, or completely injured to the point of basically being dead," Pring-Wilson said.

Pring-Wilson said the men fought with him after exchanging profanities with him while the two men sat in their car. Pring-Wilson said he was walking away from the car when the men attacked.

"I was on my knees, and there was another person striking at my head from behind. That is when I became aware of a second person attacking me," he said.

Pring-Wilson said that he called 911 and lied. He said he also lied to responding officers and investigators the following day.

"I was the one who had been attacked. I was the one who was in the position to, basically, press charges or not press charges, but at the same time, I didn't even want to be involved to that level. I didn't want to be involved at all," Pring-Wilson said.