A TEENAGER, who is on trial for murder, yesterday (Wednesday)denied kicking and stamping on Taunton student Lloyd Fouracre's head in a "ferocious" attack.

In his defence, Jay Wall, 19, said he watched as Lloyd was kicked in the head by co-accused Andrew Betty, but he did not touch him himself.

Betty, 19, and Ross McCormack,19, who also deny murder,opted not to give any evidence in their defence this week.

The incident took place in Gipsy Lane, Taunton, on September 25 last year following a birthday party.

The prosecution have accused Betty of hitting Lloyd with a wooden parking sign and Mc- Cormack of using a bike seat.

Wall, of St David's Close, Taunton,admitted lying to police about what he saw through fear of reprisals.

His counsel, Paul Dunkles QC, asked him: "You told the police you had not seen any of your friends doing anything that night.

Was that a lie?" Wall replied: "Yes."

The jury heard that Wall and others had been drinking at The Staplegrove Inn in Taunton.

Once they left the pub, he and a friend, George Pope, had started a fight which was broken up as they approached Gipsy Lane.

Wall told the court that a group of people came from the opposite direction and a man grabbed him by the throat.

Wall punched the man and a fight ensued.

He said: "I didn't say anything to the police because I was scared about what might happen."

The court had heard that Wall was limping heavily the next day an injury caused by kicking Lloyd in the head, claim the prosecution.

"You just kept on telling lies," said Martin Meek , prosecuting.

Wall said: "I just bottled it every time I wanted to tell the truth."

Wall admitted walking over to Betty after attacking Lloyd's friend, Zac Osbourne.

He said that Betty was kicking Lloyd in the head, but denied joining in.

Mr Meek said: "And this is all part of the elaborate lie you concocted to explain the blood on your jeans," to which Wall replied "no."

"After Betty had felled Lloyd with the sign and left him lying on the ground you moved in and kicked him?

"Did you stamp on him as well so to smash his skull? Was this how blood came to be on your jeans?"

"No," Wall replied. "I am not guilty."

Betty told police he had no memory of what happened that night after leaving the pub.

McCormack claims he did not punch or kick anyone, and was not fighting.

He said Wall was grabbed by someone, and he saw Betty hitting Lloyd and left the scene on his bicycle.

The jury are expected to begin considering their verdict on Monday afternoon.

The trial continues.