A FATHER has said he tried to help the man he is accused of murdering as lay in a Newport street.

Richard Wallis, 43, of Keene Street, Newport, told the jury in his trial yesterday he had tried to get Jan Jedrzejewski, who died after an incident on January 12, to go home as he lay in the street outside Cromwell Stores.

Wallis, along with Shaquille Crosdale and Callum Banton, both 18 of Fleetwood Close, Newport, and a 17-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, deny murder.

Wallis said he had entered the store to buy some cigarettes when Mr Jedrzejewski attempted to re-enter, having already made a scene and urinated in the store.

Under cross-examination, Wallis said he tried to shut the door on Mr Jedrzejewski, when he saw his jacket tighten around his neck.

Wallis also said this appeared consistent with someone pulling the Polish national from outside.

“I saw his collar go like that (signalling), and the next thing I saw he was on the floor,” Wallis told the court.

Wallis also said he made attempts to help Mr Jedrzejewski up, but did not realise how drunk he was.

Wallis was asked whether he was “angry” about how Mr Jedrzejewski had behaved in the shop, but said “I never get annoyed”.

The father-of-six said he walked away when he heard a noise directed at him which made him turn his head and walk back towards the shop.

He said he feared Mr Jedrzejewski was going to hit former shopkeeper Mirna Selvaraj, who was also outside the shop.

Wallis said he ran home after Mr Jedrzejewski became aggressive, fearing he was also going to be hit.

When he got home, Wallis said he picked up a crowbar to protect his family.

He then went back to the incident to pull others away, before attempting to turn Mr Jedrzejewski, who was again on the floor, on to his back and check he was OK.

Proceeding.