Murder suspect "threatened co-accused's family if he grassed"

Hunt (30) of Doncaster Road is accused of killing pensioner Mushin Ahmed (81) alongside Jones (30) of East Bawtry Road.

But Hunt claims he tried to stop Jones, who allegedly kicked Mr Ahmed's head “like a football” in the attack in the early hours of August 10 last year.

Speaking at Sheffield Crown Court today (Thursday), Hunt said someone wrote “Damien Hunt is a grass” on the wall of a cell he was put in, following his arrest for assault.

He added that threats have been made to him and his family by several people on behalf of Jones.

Hunt claims that Jones told him and other witnesses immediately after the attack: “If you say anything to the police, you'll get the same.”

Mr Jason Pitter, defending Hunt, asked: “You have implicated Mr Jones, so are you now viewed as a grass?”

Hunt replied: “Yes.”

Mr Pitter asked: “Is that something which worries you?”

Hunt answered: “Yes.”

Hunt has admitted that he lied to police during two interviews about the attack on Mr Ahmed, both before the pensioner died in hospital on August 21.

In the first two interviews he claimed to have had nothing to do with the attack, adding that he was in bed when it happened.

In a third interview, held in prison at his request, he accused Jones of carrying out the assault while he tried to stop it.

He said in court today that he had hoped Mr Ahmed would recover and corroborate his story.

Mr Pitter asked why he had decided to change the story and testify against Jones.

He replied: “I've just had enough of being sat here in jail for something I didn't do.

“Why should he be running about out there when he did it?”

Both Jones and Hunt deny murder. The trial continues.