A MAN on trial for a Newport murder called his mother from prison to ask her to “get rid” of a stash of drugs hidden inside trainers, a court has heard.

Richard Wallis, aged 43, of Keene Street, Newport, has denied kicking Jan Jedrzejewski during an altercation on the same street, late on January 12 this year. Mr Jedrzejewski, 41, was found unconscious on the street and died in hospital the following day.

Wallis’ co-accused - Callum Banton, aged 18, Shaquille Crosdale, aged 18, both of Fleetwood Close, Newport, and a 17-year-old who cannot be identified, have also pleaded not guilty to murder. At Newport Crown Court yesterday, Wallis was questioned by Paul Lewis QC about phone calls made to his mum, Catherine Coslett, while in prison before trial.

Ms Coslett, 64, of Valley View Road, Cwmtillery, is also on trial charged with perverting the course of justice. Transcripts of the pair’s conversations were read to the jury.

The first call on January 24 heard Richard Wallis asking his mum to “get rid of” six ounces of amphetamines and 4-5 hypodermic needles from a pair of trainers in his home as he was “worried” children might find it. The court heard that Wallis had also left two ounces of amphetamine in his mother’s house and told his mum to “chuck it away” as he “didn’t want anything to do with it no more”.

Another phone call on February 21 saw Wallis asking his mum to contact a witness about a statement saying (Wallis) went out with a dog on the night of the alleged murder.

When asked why he made this phone call, Wallis said: “I didn’t want him coming into the court room and lying and making me look like a liar as well”.

Other phone calls discussed evidence, post-mortem results, family matters and the custody of Wallis’s dog. A March 27 call heard Coslett saying Wallis borrowed different clothes pre-arrest but was still wearing the same trainers on arrest.

Wallis said he was aware that prison calls are recorded as standard procedure.

Proceeding.