Fireman killing accused 'in bed'

Christopher Raisis and Jamie Evans deny manslaughter

One of two Cardiff men accused of killing a firefighter has told a court he was in bed at the time of the fatal explosion.

Christopher Raisis, 25, said he was "nowhere near" the old bingo hall where Richard Jenkins lost his life.

He told Cardiff Crown Court he only learned a fire officer had been killed when his mother told him the next day.

Mr Raisis, who denies manslaughter, said: "I heard the explosion - I was in my bedroom.

"I found out someone had died first thing in the morning when I woke up and my mother told me."

He told the jury he felt "terribly sorry" for Mr Jenkins and his family.

A friend of Mr Raisis, Jamie Evans, 20, also denes the manslaughter of 28-year-old father-of-two Mr Jenkins.

The court heard that Mr Evans allegedly phoned Mr Raisis after the blast and told him : "You've killed a fireman."

Richard Jenkins on his wedding day with wife Catherine

The jury have seen mobile phone records showing the calls but Mr Raisis said he had "no recollection" of speaking to Mr Evans after the explosion.

He told the jury he had been involved in a fight outside a pub earlier on in the evening and had then been out in Ely with friends.

Mr Raisis admitted he had sold cocaine to a man he met in the pub on the night of the fire and said that was why he had left his friends for about 20 minutes.

Prosecutor Tim Evans accused Mr Raisis of lying, claiming he had "dreamed up" explanations for some of the evidence against him.

Mr Raisis denied this and said : "We didn't set the fire."

He also denied threatening a witness who claimed to have overheard Mr Evans on the phone.

Mr Evans and Mr Raisis, both from Ely, deny the manslaughter of Mr Jenkins in the blaze last May.

Along with Craig Sterio, 31, also from Ely, they also deny charges of intimidating a witness, robbery, and causing actual bodily harm.

The trial continues.