A man accused of murder went to the pub after he had beaten a teenager to death.
Keiron Williams is currently standing trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of murdering Michael Toohey at an internet café in the city centre alongside eight other defendants. The 18-year-old was killed after allegedly being chased into Mobiles Junction and Internet Café on Monument Place, off London Road, and battered by a gang who were "called in" by a 14-year-old boy in the early evening of April 16 this year
Jurors were previously told that the deceased had been pressured into selling drugs by a man referred to as "Gerry", with the incident coming against the background of a "war" between rival dealers. Giving his evidence from the witness box on Friday, Williams claimed that he had rushed to the scene to confront him after being told he had threatened the youth with a knife.
READ MORE: Dad with 'heart of a lion' died in M53 crash
Inside, Mr Toohey was said to have pulled out the weapon again. The 28-year-old said he responded by punching and stamping on him.
During his testimony, Williams also described his actions in the aftermath of the altercation. He said he had apologised to the shopkeeper for the disturbance before driving the boy and his two friends away from the scene.
The dad-of-two told the jury: "I said I'm sorry for what just happened in your shop, I'm sorry. I was literally apologising, I'm really sorry for what happened."
Williams then dropped the teenager off at his home and "made his way back towards his own house" on Grieve Road in Fazakerley, but parked on nearby Falcon Hey instead after "getting a phone call to say there were plenty of police at the scene by the café". He made his way back to the address then gave a change of clothing to a man in a white van, whom he would not name.
The two-time convicted heroin dealer described himself as "panicking", and added: "I knew something serious had gone on. I knew I'd be wanted for something serious.
"It was literally a bag of clothes in case I needed to get changed. I weren't getting rid of anything, it was just to get changed if I needed to."
His partner of 12 years then drove him to the Valentine pub in Aintree in her Mercedes, on what was her birthday. Williams told the court: "That's literally where I told my girlfriend to drop me, the boxing was on at the time."
Shortly after 9pm, he phoned his brother Anthony after hearing "speculation that Mr Toohey had passed away". It was in the pub that he learned the news that the teenager had died.
Williams said that he then headed "towards the canal" and "stopped using his phone". He added: "I knew Mr Toohey had passed away now and I would be wanted by Merseyside Police - I literally switched the phone off and kept it on me."
The father - who wore a navy blue jumper and tracksuit bottoms and sported short brown hair and a beard - made no comment under interview following his subsequent arrest. Concluding his questioning of his client, John Jones KC said: "Your purpose of going into Liverpool that afternoon was to buy toiletries.
"Ultimately you finished up in the internet café, hitting Mr Toohey. Why was that change brought about?"
Williams replied that he had "just had the phone call off me brother" informing him of the alleged knife incident. When Mr Jones asked why he had hit Mr Toohey, he responded: "Because he pulled the knife out on me."
The defence barrister continued: "In the darkness, why did you stamp?"
Williams, who grew up in Everton, said: "Because he grabbed my leg or something touched my leg. Something was on my leg."
He denies murder and manslaughter. The 14-year-old boy - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - 33-year-old Stephen McInerney, of Bridport Street in the city centre, 32-year-old Anthony Williams, of Hillbrook Drive in Walton, 24-year-old Michael Williams, of Carlake Grove in Walton, 21-year-old Callum Hewell, of Stratton Road in Kirkby, 25-year-old Matthew Wynn, of Mosslawn Road in Kirkby, 20-year-old Jack Knox, of Oakdale Close in Kirkby, and 26-year-old David Shelley, of Chiltern Drive in Kirkby have pleaded not guilty to the same charges and the case continues.
READ NEXT: Facebook Marketplace fraudster crashed into tree
Lidl burglar's trail of blood in Chinese buffet led police straight to him
Families brawl in park as knife and barbecue fork found in bloody fall out
Carer stole £115k from vulnerable widow and left her with just £87
Prison officers charged with manslaughter after inmate's death appear in court
