Paul Gunner murder accused Ben Worden claims friend landed fatal blow (From News Shopper)

Paul Gunner murder accused Ben Worden claims friend landed fatal blow

12:16pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in News By Tim MacFarlan, Bexley and north Kent reporter

A MAN accused of murdering a lighting technician in a kebab shop row has denied landing the killer blow.

Builder Ben Worden admits punching Paul Gunner, who was out celebrating his 32nd birthday in Bexley Village when he was attacked outside the Charcoal Grill in the early hours of October 16.

But the 33-year-old rejected prosecution claims he waited for Mr Gunner to get up before hitting him again, causing the former worker on Strictly Come Dancing to fall and fatally crack his head on the pavement.

Prosecutor Timothy Cray told Worden: "You are the one out of control and you are the one who killed Paul Gunner," as the defendant took to the witness box at Inner London Crown Court today (Thursday 20).

Worden, of Wickham Street, Welling, claimed it was friend James Parsons who followed a shaky Mr Gunner up the street before fatally striking him.

"I threw one punch," he told a jury of seven women and five men.

Mr Cray responded: "You have had to invent this killing punch from James Parsons because in your first story there is no prospect of Mr Parsons killing Paul Gunner that way, is there?

"As we sit here now in front of all these people is that really what you are going to stick to?"

Worden did not have it clear in his mind what happened on the night of the incident when he made his first statement after surrendering himself to police at around 7pm the following evening, he told the court.

He said: "It is clear now but at the time it took weeks to get everything clear."

The builder described his terror on finding out from a friend at around 5pm on October 16 that a man had been killed in Bexley Village the previous night following a fight after which three men were seen walking away.

He said: "I was hoping it was some sort of windup.

"My arms started shaking, my hands started shaking because of the shock."

Mr Cray put it to Worden: "You must have been thinking hard about what happened."

The defendant replied: "I have not stopped thinking about that for the last year."

"It has taken a long time to recall everything. It has been a lot of stress."

But Mr Cray accused Worden of: "Telling a lot of lies to disguise your involvement because it was you waiting for Paul Gunner stumbling up the road."

The trial continues.