A HOMELESS man accused of a murder in a York flat told a jury her could not remember what happened that evening - but accepted he was "in some way" responsible for the death.

Wilfred Barlow, 44, claimed yesterday at Leeds Crown Court that he could not remember what he was doing on the evening that 50-year-old Peter Robinson died from repeated blows to the head, or the day after.

He alleged he had no reason to kill or seriously injure Mr Robinson, whom he had met for the first time only hours before Mr Robinson died on February 28.

But when his barrister, Tom Bayliss, asked him: "Having heard the evidence, do you accept that you are in some way responsible for the death of Mr Robinson?" he replied: "Yes."

Barlow's friend and co-accused Paul Darch, 36, alleged that he saw Barlow and a third co-accused, John Wood stamping and kicking the 50-year-old to death after Wood's girlfriend, Karen Bulmer, accused him of raping her.

"The poor man didn't deserve that," Darch told the court. "I miss him because he used to come to my house for Christmas dinner every year."

Barlow, who said he was living on a roundabout in Hull Road on February 28, Darch, of Horsman Avenue, central York, and Wood, 39, of Trent House, Margaret Road, Walmgate, all deny murder.

Darch claimed in the witness box that Mr Robinson had stolen money from his flat in the past, but that he had forgiven him.

He also accused Wood of beating him up in his Horsman Avenue home, but added that the two had made it up.

He claimed that he had repeatedly tried to stop his two co-accused attacking Mr Robinson on February 28, but without success.

Darch also alleged after Mr Robinson was dead, Wood said to Ms Bulmer: "I had to put the dog out of his misery. I broke his ******* neck. He won't bother you again."

Darch denied suggestions from Wood's barrister, Rodney Jameson QC, that Barlow had made that comment.

The jury were expected to hear psychiatric evidence on Darch's behalf today.

Updated: 10:38 Tuesday, October 18, 2005