Ex-Marine denies car park murder

A former Royal Marine jointly accused with two others of murdering a 20-year-old man said he was acting to defend one of the men he was with.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Rhys Lewis, 30, admitted punching Ryan Edwards who was with a group of friends in a railway station car park.

Mr Edwards, from Croeserw near Maesteg, died from brain injuries two days after the attack in Bridgend in July 2007.

Mark Cook, 39, and Lee Ward, 30, also deny murder.

The three men, all from the Bridgend area, are accused of behaving like "men against boys" in an assault on Mr Edwards and a group of his friends from his home village who had been drinking in the town.

The trial has heard claims Mr Cook took offence at something said by the group in Bar Inc, where he worked as a bouncer at weekends, and hit and butted one of them, Ricky Williams, breaking his nose.

'Glass'

The prosecution claims Mr Cook then teamed up with Mr Lewis and Mr Ward and intended to "ambush" the other group as they walked towards the railway station.

Mr Lewis, who served with the Royal Marines for six years, has admitted hitting Mr Edwards but denies intending to kill him.

It is alleged Mr Edwards was knocked to the ground from behind by Mr Lewis, before being kicked and punched.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, Mr Lewis told the court he believed the other, younger men were armed with glass and he was attempting to defend Mr Cook.

John Charles Rees QC, prosecuting, put it to him that he delivered a "hard blow" that was "unsuspected" by Mr Edwards.

Mr Lewis said: "He was going for Cooky so he would have been tensed up."

Two of Mr Edwards's friends, Ashley Evans and Mark Kilnan, were left unconscious after the incident, the court heard.

Under cross examination, Mr Lewis told the court he then wanted to "salvage" what was left of the night.

Mr Rees asked him: "You had just left two boys unconscious and one semi-conscious in the car park and you wanted to salvage what was left of the night?"

'Victim'

Mr Lewis replied: "It could quite easily have been us on the floor in the car park."

Mr Rees asked why Mr Lewis led the other two defendants in running and hiding when they heard police sirens if he had considered himself to be a victim.

Mr Lewis replied: "It could quite easily have been one of us on the floor. Possibly three of us."

The three defendants all deny murdering Mr Edwards in what the prosecution claims was a joint enterprise, although Mr Ward did not strike him.

They also deny attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Evans and Mr Kilnan. Mr Cook is also charged with causing GBH with intent on Ricky Williams, which he denies.