AN alleged murderer said he had no part in the fatal attack on a man who he said was his friend.

Lee Wood is one of a group of men accused of fatally attacking Frazer Brabant on October 31, 2019. Mr Brabant died of his injuries in hospital on January 21, 2020.

Wood, 32, from Griston, Thetford, Norfolk; Forhad Miah, 32, of Chestnuts Close, Oakley; and Scott Neale, 35, from Spindle Close, Oakridge, have all been charged with murder, conspiracy to commit GBH with intent and violent disorder.

James O’Connor, 24, from Fairfield, Whitchurch, is accused of murder, and Ricky Lewis, 40, from Candover Court, Basingstoke, has been conspiracy to commit GBH with intent and violent disorder.

READ MORE: Frazer Brabant murder: Alleged attacker sent text saying 'he is dead'

Wood has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter along with Miah and O'Connor, while Neale has pleaded guilty to the charge.

On May 15 and 16 Wood gave his evidence in the trial at Winchester Crown Court and told the court he collected money from drug dealers in Basingstoke and got paid £500 to £750 for doing so.

He said he was aware that Mr Brabant, armed with a machete, stole cannabis from Neale on July 31, 2019. 

He told the court he contacted Mr Brabant after the robbery, who he had been friends with since he was a child, to 'mediate' the situation.

Wood said: "He [Brabant] made it very clear he was not going to give the drugs back. I did ask him if he could but he said no. Once Frazer says no that means no. I was not going to start arguing with him about it.

"I took the courage to call Scott and check he was okay too. He was in a bad way, he was very shaken up from the robbery. He was distraught about what had happened."

Defending Wood, Bernard Tetlow said: "Did you have any reason to want to harm him (Brabant)?"

SEE ALSO: Frazer Brabant murder: Man denied knowledge of brother's drug dealing

Wood replied "never in a million years" he is someone I see as "untouchable".

The court heard that Wood was told by Neale that he was going to "run" Mr Brabant "out of his address" with a "group of men from London".

Wood said he was visiting Basingstoke when the fatal attack happened and had collected money from O'Connor who later also told him about the attack on Mr Brabant, also known as Diego, on Halloween. 

The court heard Wood then called Neale.

Wood continued: "He said that they went to the address (Mr Brabant's address) he and James O'Connor waited outside, some people run through the flat as Diego (Brabant) came out of the address. Scott saw James get hit in the head. He said that James followed Diego into the garden and he hit Diego in the leg with a bat.

READ ALSO: Frazer Brabant murder: Man attacked for stealing cannabis, court told

"I went mad at him, I went 'what have you done? I told you not to go'."

In the days following the attack, the court heard that Wood brought new phones and got rid of the van he had been driving.

When asked if he had any part in the fatal attack Wood answered no.

Prosecutor, Michael Burrows KC said: "You were going to Basingstoke to sort things out weren't you? As your role as an enforcer."

He continued: "We know that Scott Neale and James O'Connor were present and involved in the fatal attack. You too were also involved in the attack with them, weren't you?

"We know O'Connor received an injury and was bleeding from the head after the attack, he would not have been able to walk home. You drove him home in your van, didn't you?

Wood answered no.