A MAN on trial for the murder of a homeless drug addict told police that he was his Good Samaritan and not his killer, a court heard yesterday.

Brian Lancaster, 32, told detectives that he drove drug addict Robert Parkin, nicknamed Swampy, to hospital when he saw him injured four days before he was killed.

Mr Lancaster said he took Mr Parkin, 29, to North Tees General Hospital, Stockton, to get treatment and denied harming him.

Mr Lancaster said that he sometimes bought drugs at the flat in Shaftesbury Street, Stockton, where Mr Parkin's body was found on May 9, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Describing their meeting, Mr Lancaster said: "I asked him if he was all right and if he wanted to go to hospital. He said yes. His face was bleeding from his mouth and he had a bite on his eyebrow."

Asked about May 8, he said he did not have a clue what he did, saying: "I smoke drugs and I get off my face."

Mr Lancaster, from Hartlepool but of no fixed address, and Steven Small, 33, of Holborn Park, Stockton, deny murdering Mr Parkin.

They also plead not guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

The trial continues.