Paul Retallick murder trial: Accused 'thought he was just knocked out'

Murder accused Lee McGinty told a jury how he went to his parents’ home to get changed and look for cigarettes after beating Paul Retallick.

Giving evidence at Bristol Crown Court, McGinty said he then sat on a street corner for some time, sent a series of texts and called his mother and his former partner.

After his mother told him Paul Retallick had died he returned to his sister’s house where he was arrested by police. He denies murder.

In cross examination, Peter Coombe, prosecuting, accused Lee McGinty of making up part of his testimony to justify his violent behaviour.

He said: “You had previously referred to Paul Retallick as a little rat. You hated him.”

Mr Coombe questioned why McGinty had not used his own phone, usually kept in his trouser pocket, to ring the police when he discovered Mr Retallick in his sister’s home.

Mr Coombe alleged: “The reality is that you wanted to hurt him.

“It was the first chance you had to get back at him, and the first time you had seen him in two years.”

Mr Coombe suggested McGinty had changed his story since giving police a prepared statement.

He said: “Are you trying to tell the jury the truth?

“You are trying to find an excuse for how you behaved. You are making it up.”

McGinty denied the suggestions.

He said: “Yes I did hate Paul. But if I thought he was in there (Heidi’s home) I would have called the police.

“I have a bad memory and I have seen so many statements. Everything I say is the truth.”

Mr Coombe accused Lee McGinty of having no concern for Mr Retallick’s condition after beating him.

He said: “You didn’t take the time to turn him over, you dragged him face down across the floor.

“You weren’t concerned about him. You didn’t do anything else to try to help him or to help him breathe.

Lee McGinty said: “I was in disbelief. At that stage I thought he was still alive and just knocked out. I was shocked at the state he was in.

“I was just hitting him. If I had wanted to hurt him I would have done it a long time ago.”

Defence Counsel Michael Fitton QC told jurors that Lee McGinty had previous cautions for taking vehicles unlawfully, joyriding, burglary and taking metal from a commercial premises but no previous convictions for violence.

Jurors were expected to retire to consider the evidence yesterday afternoon.