Shane Watson murder accused: I lied to police

Shylon Wishart is alleged to have kicked, stamped on and urinated on Mr Watson during an attack in a Sedgley alleyway.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday that, in a statement he gave to police on the day he was arrested, he said he had been on a night out at Monty's Bar in Sedgley and found Mr Watson while he was walking home.

But jurors heard this afternoon that Wishart lied in the statement and only made the claims because he was "scared". James Cartwright, aged 18, of Sandyfields Road, has admitted murder. Wishart, 19, of North Springfield, denies the same charge.

The statement, which was read to jurors by prosecutor Mr Peter Grieves-Smith yesterday, said: "I (Wishart) was on my way home and came across Shane Watson. He was lying on the floor and appeared to have head injuries and blood everywhere.

"I tried to help him. I tried to pick him up and administer first aid."

But when asked this afternoon by Mr Grieves-Smith why he did not tell police the truth in the statement, he said: "Because I did not want to go to prison. Because I was scared."

The court previously heard that during a search of Wishart's home, officers found a mobile phone case from Mr Watson's iPhone at the bottom of his garden. Also discovered were a pair of Wishart's trainers, jeans and a T-shirt, and a pair of Cartwright's trainers, which all contained the blood of Mr Watson.

The court heard from pathologist Dr Alexander Kolar, who carried out a post mortem on Mr Watson's body. He told the jury that debt collector Mr Watson's body showed "no classical features" of defending himself during the attack that killed him. Dr Kolar explained that Mr Watson died as a result of "moderate to severe" head and facial injuries and that were compatible with someone who had been "kicked, punched and stamped on".

Dr Kolar said: "He has not mounted a defence to what as taken place."

Mr Watson was discovered in the alleyway near to Springfield Grove in Sedgley. He had become separated from his partner, Kelly Handley, after leaving the bar.

A court has heard that he had been stripped as part of the attack, and Miss Handley said he was "unrecognisable" when she found him along with his mother Jane.

The trial continues.