Paul Retallick murder trial: Dad tells how relationship 'turned sour'

Murder accused Michael McGinty said he grew to hate his alleged victim – who had broken his ribs and assaulted his daughter in two attacks.

Giving evidence at Bristol Crown Court, Michael McGinty described how his friendship with Paul Retallick turned sour after he assaulted his daughter, Heidi.

The court heard Mr Retallick was given a suspended sentence on April 26 last year for assaulting Miss McGinty, leaving her with a broken nose.

Michael McGinty said: “When Paul used to live in Yeovil we used to go around his house and have a drink together and I took him out window cleaning with me.

“However, our relationship started to go sour when we moved to Langport. He turned up out of the blue and threatened ‘I am going to f****** kill your daughter’. He was getting me involved in their arguments.”

The court heard how a fortnight later, the two came to blows on the Abbey Manor estate in Yeovil, leaving Michael with broken ribs.

Michael said: “At the time I thought I was going to die. I couldn’t breathe. I changed as a person after that. I was on depression tablets and pain killers for a long time. After what happened I hated Paul – he showed he had a dark side to him.”

In a statement to police, Michael McGinty said: “Heidi and Lee are very protective of me. When Paul broke my ribs they were all over the place.”

He said family members visited him in hospital after the attack and “wanted to go out and get Paul.” He claimed he persuaded them to leave the matter in the police’s hands.

Peter Coombe, prosecuting, suggested Michael and Lee McGinty had an opportunity to seek revenge on the night of Mr Retallick’s death.

He said: “I suggest you and your son saw an opportunity to get your own back – and you did so.”

But Michael McGinty said he had no intention to hurt Mr Retallick. He was adamant he would not have gone to his daughter’s house if he knew Mr Retallick was there.