A MAN accused of murdering his friend has admitted battering him while high on drink and drugs, but claims the fatal stab wound was delivered by the man’s girlfriend.

Kieran Adey told the jury at Newcastle Crown Court an unpaid £5 debt was a bone of contention with Mark Shaw, who was tied up and beaten before he was killed.

Mr Adey, 19, said he was taking cocaine and drinking at Mr Shaw’s Pine Street home in Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street, after the 29-year-old had suffered a near-fatal heroin overdose when they started arguing.

Mr Adey, who lived on nearby Queen Street, said first he, and then another man, Ricky Willas, assaulted Mr Shaw by punching him to the head, before leaving the house for a short while to visit a friend where they washed blood from their hands.

The jury was told Mr Shaw tried to flee his house when they returned but Mr Willas chased and brought him back ‘to stop him going to the police.’

Mr Adey said Mr Willas left to go ‘lamping’ and it was his co-accused, Zoe Warren’s idea to tie Mr Shaw up to prevent him leaving.

He said they both carried him upstairs to his bedroom where he continued to punch Mr Shaw.

Mr Adey said Miss Warren, 19, from Washington, Mr Shaw’s partner of less than a fortnight, was annoyed he had spent her last £10 on drugs and ‘just flipped’.

Mr Adey, who said he continued drinking and snorting cocaine throughout the beating he meted out to his defenceless victim, said: “Zoe takes his belt off and put it around his face and put it into his mouth.

“He was struggling. He was worming around to stop her doing it. He was shouting so I hit him again.

“At this point she got the pool cue and started hitting him with it. It was the fat end, quite a few times. It was making a noise when it connected with him, making a thud.

“That’s the point she picked the knife up. I had no idea there was a knife. She stuck it in Mark’s back.”

Miss Warren, who denies taking part in any violence, said Mr Adey stabbed Mr Shaw.

He died in the early hours of December 17. Mr Adey and Miss Warren both deny murder and Miss Warren denies a further charge of witness intimidation.

The trial continues.