Bilston murder suspect accepts causing fatal injuries but says he can't remember it
A murder suspect accused of violently beating his friend to death in a drunken rage has accepted causing the fatal injuries.
Aleksejs Lusnikovs told jurors he was responsible for the injuries which cost Deniss Buzmakovs his life at the defendant's Bilston home.
But he claimed he could not remember the alleged onslaught and had "no idea at all" how father-of-two Mr Buzmakovs suffered up to 60 injuries.
Prosecutor Mr Christopher Millington QC put it to the defendant: "Do you accept that you are responsible for causing those injuries to Deniss?"
The defendant replied: "I don't want to but yes. I asked police to help me understand and clear up what actually happened."
Mr Millington continued his cross-examination and said: "Was this an accident what happened to Deniss?"
Lusnikovs said: "This was not what was in my mind, this was not something that I planned."
Dead on the floor
The 42-year-old denies murdering 'drinking partner' Mr Buzmakovs in his Beckett Street home on September 9.
He told Wolverhampton Crown Court he began drinking Latvian whiskey when he woke at 7am before continuing with two friends during the day.
Lusnikovs then recalled waking up just after 6pm to find Mr Buzmakovs dead on the floor - four hours after the victim was seen arriving at the property.
But he claimed he had "no recollection" of drinking with 42-year-old Mr Buzmakovs at his home.
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Giving evidence on Tuesday, Lusnikovs said: "As I was approaching him, I realised something was wrong and that scared me.
"I was on my knees and trying to bring him around and I couldn't understand what was happening.
"I have no clear idea at all how that happened. I don't have any recollection, any memories of it."
Confrontation
Lusnikovs also told the jury of five men and seven women there had previously been "violent confrontation" between the pair.
But the defendant, who has lived in Bilston for the past 12 years, said he would often confide in his friend as they had a 'very trusting and deep relationship'.
He added: "Sometimes we would drink too much and mess about and have a bit of horse play."
Mr Buzmakovs was beaten at least ten times with a broken chair leg, kicked and punched by Lusnikovs, the prosecution allege.
Jurors were told the victim was over two and a half times the drink-drive limit when he died last year.
The trial continues.
