Anthony O’Donnell blames Curry for attacking Neil Selkirk. He claims Curry repeatedly punched kicked and stamped on Selkirk.
O’Donnell said he was homeless last August and stayed in a tent in Shipcote Park. He met Neil Selkirk there two weeks prior. O’Donnell offered Selkirk shelter in his tent once because it was raining, he explained to the court.
O’Donnell said they got along well and never argued, he testified. Curry later pitched his tent in the park after O’Donnell’s trip to the Metrocentre.
The morning of the alleged murder, they bickered. Curry said Selkirk lost a battery pack, but Selkirk told him he didn’t know where it was. Curry demanded Selkirk sort it out quickly, and O’Donnell described the mood as “horrible.” Selkirk gave Curry £10 to replace the pack, and the atmosphere improved for a short time.
Later, Curry brought it up again and then accused Selkirk of mocking him. Curry went to O’Donnell’s tent for a lighter. Then Curry grabbed Neil by his ankles and pulled him out of the tent suddenly. Selkirk got up and went back.
Curry called him a “nonce” and pulled him out again. O’Donnell said no one had accused Selkirk before. He denied it, claiming Selkirk was his friend.
O’Donnell said Selkirk stood up once more, and Curry tried to attack him again. Selkirk moved backward to avoid him. Curry punched Selkirk in the face. Selkirk fell, then stood up, but Curry repeatedly punched his face again.
Curry started kicking and stamping on Selkirk, who was lying on the ground, O’Donnell recalled. O’Donnell pushed Curry off of Selkirk when this began.
O’Donnell said he didn’t attack Selkirk. He said he didn’t touch him deliberately and had no wish to hurt him. “Not at all. He was a friend,” he stated simply.
O’Donnell said Curry wanted to leave, and he urged Curry to go, fearing escalation. Curry left the park, but then returned. Upon returning, Curry said he degraded Selkirk by pulling Selkirk’s pants down.
O’Donnell thought Selkirk was knocked out only and did not think Selkirk was dying at all. His lawyer asked if he joined the attack, and O’Donnell replied, “No.” He also said he did not want harm to come to the man. Curry’s lawyer questioned O’Donnell.
He denied stamping on Selkirk, saying blood on his shoes may have been from stopping Curry. Curry’s lawyer asked if he stamped on Selkirk; O’Donnell said, “No, I did not.” The lawyer claimed that explained the blood on the shoes. The trial continues at Newcastle Crown Court.