THE man accused of murdering his boss and attempting to murder his three colleagues told police at interview “I did not intend for anybody to get hurt.”

Jurors in the trial of Russell Leon Carter at Newport Crown Court yesterday heard Carter was £70,000 in debt from credit cards and unpaid mortgage repayments and his house was in the process of being repossessed.

In statements read to the court from Carter’s first police interviews the jury heard he went to the Driverline 247 offices in New Inn, Pontypool, on October 20, to get money he was owed.

He told police he took a bag containing rope, cable ties, tape, petrol in glass containers, a lighter and a plastic toy gun, which he found weeks earlier near a children’s play area.

He saw Gethin Heal arrive and followed him into the offices and explained how he tied him up with cable ties along with Robert Lewis and Nathan Taylor who arrived later.

He also admitted dousing them in petrol before later tying Mr Monk up when he arrived.

Carter said he told the men: “I am not trying to hurt you or anyone here. I just want my money.”

Mr Monk said he could arrange a BACS transfer to Carter's account and Nathan Taylor talked Carter through making the transaction.

Carter then explained how Mr Lewis broke free from his restraints and pushed him over.

Carter said he grabbed a metal bar on the desk and swung it at Mr Lewis before knocking him out and tying him back up.

As he did Carter said Mr Monk kicked him and Carter turned hitting him hard with the metal bar.

Carter said Mr Monk made a gurgling sound like he was trying to catch his breathe.

He told police: “I started to panic, I did not know what to do, that’s not what I came here for. I came here to get my money and go.”

He said: “I didn’t care whether I lived or died as long as I got the money owed to me so my family would be all right.”

He told police he set fire to the desk before he left so someone from the neighbouring properties would see it and raise the alarm.

Carter of Penrhos Crescent, Rumney, Cardiff, denies murdering father-of-two Kingsley Monk and the attempted murder of his co-workers Gethin Heal, Robert Lewis and Nathan Taylor.

'I was in debt and suicidal' - claims accused

FORENSIC psychiatrist Nelson Cheng examined Carter following his arrest.

He said Carter appeared distraught, upset and tearful had his head down and made minimal eye contact with him.

He said Carter did not wish to discuss what happened on October 20 but said what had happened was accidental.

Carter told Dr Cheng he felt suicidal and was £70,000 in debt from his mortgage and unpaid credit cards.

He said he had lost weight over the past few months, had lost his appetite and had a disturbed sleep pattern.

He told Dr Cheng he was placed in a mental institute in America between the ages of eight and 13 and said he suffered abuse at home before he ran away.

Carter said he served in the US infantry in Vietnam and was discharged due to stress and suffering flashbacks.

He added he took the controlled drug Diazepam, which controls anxiety.