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Murder Trial: Accused admits kicking victim on floor

Tue, 24 Mar 2015

"This is wrong" - that was the response from a Castletown man after he was charged with murder in December 2013.

46-year-old Ian Anderson told police officers who interviewed him after his arrest that he'd been in fear of his own safety after an "unprovoked" attack in his home.

He's standing trial accused of murdering 60-year-old Ballabeg man Neil Roberts - his body was found at Anderson's home on Queen Street in the early hours of December 1st.

Today the jury was read interview transcripts where Anderson told detectives he'd used "reasonable force" to protect himself on three occasions when the gardener attacked him.

Telling them "nothing like this was ever supposed to happen in the house" Anderson said the situation ended up out of control because of Mr Roberts "not backing off".

Describing the final altercation in the living room Anderson claimed he was punched again and, after seeing his own injuries in the mirror, thought "if I go down again I'm a dead person".

In the resulting "mele" he admitted punching and kicking Mr Roberts - saying after a punch caught him in the face he slumped to the floor and he realised he was "in trouble".

Anderson later admitted to kicking Mr Roberts whilst he was still on the floor saying "all I remember is lashing out".

Telling police he "could have just got in the car and drove off" Anderson described how he then tried to help Mr Roberts by attempting mouth to mouth resuscitation and chest compressions.

However he said all he could hear was "groans and gurgling" so he put him in the recovery position and phoned for an ambulance.

Anderson denies murder - the trial continues. 

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