A MAN accused of murdering a Newport father admitted lying to police, a court heard yesterday.

Shahid Rafiq, 37, of Bryn Yr Ysgol, Karl Drummond, 37, of Attlee Court, and George Glover, 40, of Graham Court, all Caerphilly, are on trial at Cardiff Crown Court accused of murdering Tony Singh, 24, and conspiring to rob him on November 11, 2010. All three deny the charges.

During cross-examination by Drummond’s counsel John Charles Rees yesterday, Rafiq admitted lying to police following his arrest on November 15, 2010. Rafiq admitted telling police he just went home after confronting drug dealers who conned him and did not name who he was with.

He said he told officers he was not at the scene where Mr Singh was allegedly attacked, but waited around the corner having a cigarette, while Drummond went to meet Mr Singh close to Clytha Park Road. Rafiq told officers Drummond then ran back around the corner and jumped in the van they had used to travel to the meet.

Rafiq said: “I lied a lot through the interviews.

“I was accused of murder and I hadn’t murdered anybody.

“It was a serious charge.”

Rafiq admitted adapting his story depending on what the police knew, saying he was scared.

Mr Singh was found dead in his Bryngwyn Road flat on November 15, 2010. He died from head injuries.

Proceeding.