Murder trial defendant tells jury he ‘lost it’ and started punching friend

John Stamford said the picture was of a baby he believed at the time was his daughter, who had been taken into care soon after her birth.

He told Leeds Crown Court he was already upset and down over what had happened to her and when Gary Virr did not seem bothered, making the comment “so what you can always have another kid if you want one” he reacted by punching the other man.

He said he was not aware how many times he punched Mr Virr but “I imagine it was hard.”

He told Simon Bourne-Arton QC, defending him: “At that point I lost it, didn’t I.”

He denied using any weapon on Mr Virr while visiting him at his flat in Eastborough, Scarborough, or putting a soft toy made of two rabbits joined together, into his mouth.

The jury has heard that Mr Virr died from asphyxiation because the toy obstructed his breathing, probably when he was unconscious.

Mr Bourne-Arton asked him: “Can you remember ever putting a toy like that into Gary’s mouth?”

“No,” replied Stamford, “I can’t recall it, no. I have never seen it before.”

Asked if he was suggesting if someone else might have done it, Stamford said: “I don’t know I don’t know what’s happened, all I know is I haven’t seen it before.”

He told the jury when he came to his senses he saw Mr Virr on the floor and moved him on to his mattress. He could see blood and was panicking and left without looking at the injuries.

Stamford, 52, of Kelia Court, Scarborough, denies the murder of Mr Virr, 48, last December.

He told the jury he had been drinking and taken methadone.

The trial continues.