Accused murderer Anthony Eugene Flood told Police he repeatedly kicked Vincello `Johnny Peppers' Richardson only after he was hit in the face by him.

He also told Police that he had no intention of killing 57-year-old Richardson on December 17.

Flood, 28 who is represented by Mr. Tim Marshall, is charged with killing and robbing Richardson of $3,400 and breaking into his apartment.

Police Insp. Eustace Farley told the Supreme Court yesterday that when giving his account of what happened Flood was relaxed and seemed to be "thinking as he was going along, like he was thinking it out''.

Flood told Police that he and Richardson had been at the Caribbean Lounge and while there he teased Richardson by calling him cousin.

"When I left the bar Richardson was walking in front of me because he had just left before me. I ran up to him calling him cousin again and I touched him on the back of his shoulder. We were both drunk and he turned around and slapped me in my mouth,'' Flood said in his statement.

He added: "I was in a daze and I was knocked out for a few seconds. When I came to I saw Richardson running towards the St. George's Police Station.

"I ran after him, caught up to him outside the door leading to his apartment on York Street, and kicked him on the side of his face.'' Flood also said that he forced Richardson into the yard of his house causing him to trip over a sidewalk. He then stumbled through the unlocked, partially opened door and fell on the ground.

"As he was getting up he swore at me and started to come at me that's when I kept kicking him in the face and then when he didn't move I knew he was dead,'' Flood said.

He added: "I got scared and ran, then I saw Gerald `Beasey' Green. He told me that he had seen what I did and he asked me how much money I had.

"He told me he would tell on me if I didn't give him some of the money. I told him that he would have to help me.

"We walked around the parking lot by the Caribbean Lounge and then we went to `Johnny Peppers' house.'' Flood also said that Green picked up Richardson's keys and said that he would take care of them. Then "we dragged Richardson through an alley and stopped near a bush and rested his body up against a wall. We continued to drag him across the dock and threw him overboard''.

Flood added that after dumping Richardson he and Green went back to the entrance to Richardson's apartment to look for a ring he had lost but he could not find it.

"We heard a Police officer come to check the door to the coffee shop. I closed the door and we ran and jumped into someone's garden. Green asked me again about the money and I told him I was scared. He told me not to tell anyone about what had happened,'' Flood said.

He added that he stashed some of the money in St. George's, gave Green $500 and bought drugs on Court Street.

Insp. Farley also told the court that when charging Flood with the offences the accused had no reply to the charge of murder and "to the charge of robbery. He said "I didn't rob that man'' and he said that he didn't steal from Richardson because there was nothing in his apartment to steal.

Earlier, Det. Sgt. Donald Cutts of the St. George's Scenes of Crime Office said he found two teeth and two buttons, and a book of matches at the scene of the alleged murder.

He added: "The teeth found at the scene appeared to have been formally in the mouth of the deceased.'' Det. Sgt. Cutts also said that the bloody footprints found at the scene and the bruised imprint found on Richardson's face could have been from the shoes belonging to Flood.

Expert witness, Government Analyst Dr. Alan Young, said: "The spots and splashes of blood on the wall, windows and door are consistent with sustained and violent assault with the victim laying on the ground.'' He added: "The tufts of hair found on the wall in the alley, along with the blood is also consistent with bleeding profusely while passing along the alley and resting on the wall before falling.'' Dr. Young also told the court that Richardson had 198 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood at the time of his death which would be equivalent to nine ounces of alcohol or 10 cans of beer.

On Tuesday the court heard from Richardson's neighbour Helen Minors who owned the coffee shop on York Street across from Richardson's apartment.

She said that after closing the shop during the early hours of the morning on December 17 she heard Richardson come in the door.

"He then opened the gate and I heard a noise. I thought he had tripped,'' Minors said.

She added: "When I was on my way to the door to tell him to come in I heard another noise and I knew someone else was out there.

"I heard `Johnny Peppers' call my name twice, he sounded like he was suffocating, like he had a cold.

"I was scared so I didn't open the door. I heard four blows and it sounded like something heavy.'' Minors also said that later she went to the door and notice a pool of blood.'' The case continues today before Puisne Judge the Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade. Crown Counsel is Mr. Khamisi Tokunbo.