Murder accused "tried to stop fatal attack"

Kieran Rice, of Oak Meadows, East Dene, said he saw Mr Ahmed (81) being attacked, but could not say whether Hunt or Jones struck him first.

Cross-examining, Mr Jason Pitter, defending Hunt, said: “There was an argument going on between you, Mr Hunt and Mr Jones. “CCTV shows Mr Jones going first after Mr Ahmed.”

Mr Rice replied: “Yes.”

Mr Pitter said: “You were trying to get Jones to leave it.”

Mr Rice answered: “Yes.”

Mr Pitter asked: “Mr Hunt was more successful in getting Mr Jones to behave, wasn't he?”

Mr Rice said: “Yes. Damien was following Dale, trying to stop him.”

Mr Rice said Hunt and Jones kept arguing as they accosted Mr Ahmed, with Hunt trying to calm Jones down.

Mr Pitter asked: “Did you see Mr Hunt strike at Mr Jones?”

Mr Rice replied: “I can't remember.”

Shane Rice, Kieran Rice's brother, told police that Hunt had nothing to do with the attack.

He reiterated this in court, but later said that had been a lie, encouraged by his brother Kieran.

It was designed to protect Kieran after police locked him and Hunt in the same cell, Shane Rice said.

Mr Andrew O'Byrne, defending Jones, asked Kieran Rice if he asked his brother to lie for him.

Mr Rice replied: “I don’t know. I can't remember.”

Mr O'Byrne said: “[Shane] suggested you were effectively trying to rule Mr Hunt out and drop Dale in it.”

Rice replied: “I don't know what happened.”

Both Hunt and Jones deny murder. The trial continues.