‘It should never have happened.’
MURDER accused Martyn Burke told a court his alleged victim was killed by another man and said he felt “sorry” and “sick” about his death.
Prosecutors claim airport cleaner Burke murdered Andrew Keenan after accusing him of stealing from his cannabis crop in Wallsend.
Giving evidence at Newcastle Crown Court, the 28-year-old admitted he had assaulted Mr Keenan on previous occasions.
But Burke denied responsibility for Mr Keenan’s murder in Willington Quay last July and named a man he says was involved with the cannabis farm as the attacker.
His barrister, Jamie Hill QC, asked: “On July 31 did you assault Andrew Keenan?” Burke replied: “No I didn’t.” He said he had seen his associate attack Mr Keenan that day and said he didn’t want him to do it.
Burke also denied wanting to cause Keenan serious harm.
Mr Hill asked: “How do you feel about the fact Andrew Keenan died?”
He replied: “Sick. Sorry. It should never have happened.”
Burke accepted he had hit Mr Keenan on two occasions and also pushed him, and said he felt “disgusted” with himself.
Burke said he became involved in growing cannabis at Clavering Street, Wallsend, a property rented in his name.
He said the man he claimed killed Mr Keenan was the main player with the cannabis farm and promised him a third of the profit if he looked after the plants.
Burke said on July 24 last year he found the back door of the property kicked in and 16 or 17 fully grown plants were missing.
He came to believe Mr Keenan may have been responsible for taking the cannabis, he said.
Burke admitted hitting Mr Keenan on Thursday July 28 then seeing him near his home on Sunday July 31. He claims the other man then ran up the alley after him.
“He had Keenan on the floor, he had his hoodie over his head and he was repeatedly punching him to the side of the ribs,” said Burke.
“I was quite shocked at how bad he was hitting him so I started walking back up the alley.
Burke said he thought about intervening but was worried the man would turn on him.
Burke, of Bewicke Road, Willington Quay, denies murder and perverting the course of justice by misleading officers during their enquiries. Burke’s partner Katie Maguire, 30, also of Bewicke Road, is also standing trial and denies perverting the course of justice by lying to the police.
Danny Cockburn, 20, of Vine Street, Wallsend, denies a charge of conspiracy to cause GBH with intent by allegedly telling Burke the whereabouts of Mr Keenan.
Burke and Maguire have both pleaded guilty to producing cannabis.
The trial continues.