court if Vincello (Johnny Peppers) Richardson had not touched him on December 17 last year.

Flood, 28, who denies murdering and robbing 57-year-old Richardson of $3,400, made the claim he continued to give evidence yesterday.

Asked by Crown Counsel Mr. Khamisi Tokunbo asked what he was expecting the jury to believe, he replied: "If Richardson hadn't touched me I would have never been here today. My defence is I was drunk, knocked out and disappointed.'' He added that the incident had been painful from "the day that I kicked him''.

But Mr. Tokunbo said: "It was so painful that after killing Richardson you counted the money, worked with Broadley to dispose of the body, stashed the money and slept comfortably in a taxi on your way to Hamilton? "You're standing there lying through your teeth. You were also splashing Richardson's money out to get high.'' "You're getting trapped in your own web of lies. You went out to rob him didn't you,'' Mr. Tokunbo asked. Flood said that was not true.

Mr. Tokunbo also told Flood: "It wasn't enough that he was dazed after you first kicked him.

"It wasn't enough for knocking you in the mouth, you weren't finished. You didn't tell the Police that you lost control because you didn't lose control.

You want the jury to accept that you were drunk and lost control.'' Mr. Tokunbo told Flood he was very much in control and reminded him that he had told Police that he knew what he was doing.

He added: "You intended to cause Richardson serious injury and you intentionally killed him, and you went up to his apartment intending to further rob him. And now you are finding yourself here trying to wiggle your way out of it.'' Flood said: "If I had planned this I would have never given my evidence to the Police, and I would have had somewhere to put his body. I never intended to kill the man, I was the cause of his death.'' Earlier Flood told the court that after disposing of the Richardson's body he and Eugene Broadley walked back to Richardson's house to look for Flood's ring.

"I couldn't find my ring and I gave Broadley $500 and asked him to help me find it,'' Flood said.

Accused `cold and dangerous' He added: "I saw a set of keys behind the door and Broadley said he would take care of them as I was looking for my ring.

"Broadley went upstairs to Richardson's apartment. I went upstairs and told Broadley to come down and help me look for my ring. Broadley was searching for more money.'' Flood also told the court that he did not go through Richardson's belongings "because I already had the money. Broadley never knew I had two lots.'' He added that after coming out of Richardson's apartment he heard footsteps and saw Police checking the door of Helen's coffee shop.

"I shut the door and told Broadley that it was the cops. We panicked, ran and jumped over the wall into Somers Garden,'' Flood said.

He added that he later stashed some of the money at Somers Playhouse and some at the golf course before taking the rest of the money to Court Street.

When asked by his lawyer Mr. Tim Marshall what he used the money for Flood replied: "I spent the money on drugs because I just wanted to forget about everything that happened.'' Flood told the jury: "I feel terrible about what happened. Richardson didn't deserve what happened to him. I'm guilty of being the cause of his death but nothing was planned.'' In closing, Mr. Tokunbo said the case was "open and shut''.

"At the beginning of this trial I said there was an eye witness to all the facts of this case and that person was none other than Anthony Edwin Flood himself,'' he said.

He added: "In nine voluntary statements Flood gave an account of everything that happened on December 16 and 17 and other witnesses confirmed what he has said.'' Mr. Tokunbo also said Flood kicked Richardson on the head and face which was indicative of blood being found on the wall and ground and Flood said he dragged Richardson, which showed on his knees.

He added: "The list goes on and it all comes to this. Flood said, yes, I killed him but I didn't intend to. I was drunk and out of control. The consequence is that you believe that.

"Flood never says how he lost control and if that were so, don't you think he would have told Police that. This is his way out of the murder charge. He also does not tell Police that he had been drinking since 10 a.m. that morning.

What state would he have been in if he had been doing what he said.'' He also told the jury that Flood's defence of provocation and drunkenness were contradictory.

If he was provoked by Richardson slapping him, his response -- kicking him to death -- was not proportionate, Mr. Tokunbo said.

He also said after killing Richardson, robbing him and paying someone to dispose of the body, Flood shared his proceeds in the form of drugs.

He added: "Richardson did not deserve to have his life violently and drastically cut short. This community needs to be protected from Richardson's murderer so that other bodies like Richardson's will not be found floating in the harbour.

"This person that committed these crimes is a cold, dangerous person with no regard or respect for human life, and in this case, his elders. That person is Anthony Edwin Flood. The only appropriate verdict is guilty.'' Mr. Marshall told the jury that the Crown was projecting a one dimensional picture.

He added: "The Crown had a great reluctance to get into the type A blood that was found at the scene which could have been consistent with Flood saying he was assaulted.

"They want you to believe this was a planned robbery but if it was, would Flood have done the acts he did. He had more of a lack of thought. With the height and weight of Richardson, would Flood have not had a weapon? "Flood told Police he had no intention of killing Richardson. He said that he was struck down to the ground and he went into a fit of rage which lasted to the point when he realised Richardson was dead,'' Mr. Marshall said.

He added: "If he wanted to lie to you, think of the possibilities. He is asking you to deal with him fairly. The whole ordeal happened so quickly that there was time for passion to cool.'' Mr. Marshall said Flood never denied that he committed the act that led to Richardson's death, "he is just asking you to examine all the evidence and render a true verdict.''