Man 'fell in river by accident'

Tony Atkin was pushed into the water, the court heard

One of two youths accused of attacking a man then pushing him into the River Welland told police the victim fell in accidentally, a court has heard.

Toby Atkin, 25, was kicked, burnt and urinated on before being rolled into the River Welland at Spalding, Lincolnshire, on 17 May, a jury heard.

The pair, aged 15 and 17, have denied murder at Nottingham Crown Court.

On Wednesday the jury heard a police interview transcript with the older boy where he said Mr Atkin fell in.

The trial has already heard the victim allegedly had his clothes, face and neck burnt with a cigarette lighter and the two defendants, who cannot be named because of their ages, then kicked him and urinated on him before dragging him to the river edge and pushing him in.

In the interview with Det Sgt Chris Davison, the boy said: "We didn't push him (Mr Atkin) in the river, he fell."

Asked about what he actually saw, the teenager added: "We didn't see him slip. We just saw him stood up and then he just went, like, down."

When asked why he did not help his victim, he said: "I was scared. I was in shock. I didn't know what to do...

"I didn't kick him or touch him as he went in the river. When he went in, it was an accident."

The court heard Mr Atkin, who lived in Spalding and was described as a binge drinker, was five times over the legal alcohol limit for driving and had been taking strong prescription painkillers when he died.

His body was recovered from the water by police divers in the early hours of 18 May.

The trial continues.