A “GOOD friend” has admitted lying to the police in false statements to provide an alibi for one of the four people accused of murdering a Polish man in Newport.

Arturas Stankevicius gave evidence at Newport Crown Court on Wednesday and confirmed that two of the three statements he made contained dishonest details.

Richard Wallis, 43, of Keene Street, Callum Banton, 18, of Fleetwood Close, and a 17-year-old youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, have pleaded not guilty to his murder.

Shaquille Crosdale, 18, of Fleetwood Close, has pleaded not guilty to the same offence and also to perverting the course of public justice.

A fifth defendant, Catherine Coslett, 64, of Valley View Road, Cwmtillery, is not accused of murder but perverting the course of public justice.

The court heard that Mr Stankevicius, who formerly lived on Hammond Drive, had befriended Wallis during late night dog walks in Black Ash Park.

“I got to know him because he was good at fixing bikes,” said Mr Stankevicius, “he was really good with the house and decorating.

“He became a friend – a really good friend to me and my family.”

Mr Hughes asked Mr Stankevicius about his interaction with Wallis following the alleged incident on Thursday, January 12.

“I said I did not want to go for a walk and he said ok and left,” he said, as Wallis had arrived with his dog.

Mr Stankevicius told the court that he saw the defendant the day after and the pair had a brief chat about the alleged incident.

“I called him into my garden. I said: “Police are everywhere”.” he said.

“I asked Richard what happened and he said: “I don’t know”.”

Mr Hughes asked the defendant about the three statements he made to the police - on January 15, January 23 and April 25.

“The first statement – that was a lie,” said the barrister.

“I misunderstood the questions when the CID came and asked me the questions.

“I didn’t understand that they meant that day.”

The court heard that in his statement, Mr Stankevicius said that he and Wallis took their dogs for an hour long walk in the park between 10.30pm and 11.30pm.

Mr Hughes moved onto the final statement that Mr Stankevicius made, where he attempted to rectify the inaccuracies from the previous accounts.

“If the police come, you tell them we went to the park with the dogs,” said Mr Hughes, reading the statement aloud.

“The reason I lied in my previous statement was Richard had been a good friend,” said the witness.

“I got scared because police are coming to my house.”

However, Mr Stankevicius claimed that he had not been dishonest in his most recent statement, and that a language barrier meant had created a level of confusion.

“Why are you changing your account now?”

“They misunderstood me. I have not changed anything.

Defending Callum Banton, Ali Bajwa QC asked the witness about the alibi he created in his first statement for Wallis.

“You have given him an alibi,” said Mr Bajwa.

“You are saying he was with me. You were saying he was not in Keene Street for that one hour.

“You must have known that Richard had told the police that he had come to your house.”

Mr Stankevicius replied: “I know that Richard sent the police to my door. He is the only person who calls me Alex.”

Earlier, James Wilson - the prosecution junior - read a statement from Michael Risdale, a paramedic who attended the scene and questioned two women, who witnessed the confiscation of two mobile phones and jackets.

In Mr Risdale’s statement, he described the 41-year-old as “lifeless” and his body was “floppy” as he was called to Keene Street to deal with a man in cardiac arrest.

Nicole Flage told the court that she received two phones - both iPhones - and kept them in her bag until they were seized Gwent Police and CID officers as evidence.

Mr Jedrzejewski died at the Royal Gwent Hospital the day after the alleged incident, as he was found unresponsive at around 11pm close to Cromwell Road on Thursday, January 12.

Proceeding.