It wasn't me, says murder accused

Ricky Gelardo said: "It sounds like he's had a proper beating up, it wasn't me I know that."

Leeds Crown Court has heard the body of Alan Atkin, 62, was discovered in his flat in Swan Court, Swan Hill Road, Scarborough, on April 21 after it was believed he was attacked there five days earlier.

Gelardo, 29, who had been staying at an address in Lismore Road, Scarborough, denies his murder.

Det Sgt Andrew Dudman and junior prosecuting counsel Mark Giulani read interviews to the jury yesterday in which Gelardo said he had gone to Mr Atkin's address on one occasion with Karen Stubbings because she believed her sister was staying there.

He said two men were there when they arrived, he understood one of them was called 'Jimmy Scarface'. He claimed Mr Atkin had tried to sell him a buddha statue for 50 but he had refused and he and Miss Stubbings had left soon afterwards.

He said he only realised it was that man who had died subsequently when he saw a report and picture of him in a paper.

Told that Miss Stubbings was saying they were the only two at the flat and that it was Gelardo whom she witnessed attacking Mr Atkin, punching him so hard that it knocked him out of his bed on to the floor, Gelardo said: "Whatever has happened to that man it wasn't me."

He said Miss Stubbings was making a mistake. She was an alcoholic "and must have had too much to drink".

When he was told she also said she had propped Mr Atkin up but he was injured when they left, he said: "She must be covering up for someone. I don't know what to think, I know it wasn't me, it's ridiculous."

When he was asked to explain his handprint in blood in the flat he said: "I don't know, there must have been blood there from before."

The hearing continues.