A MAN accused of murder says he attacked his victim with a hammer because he made unwanted homosexual advances to him.

A jury at Manchester Crown Court heard Kevin Barrett bludgeoned Terence Evans, 21 times in a "concentrated and sustained attack" which fragmented his skull.

But the prosecution claim Barrett made up the story about the homosexual approach and had intended to kill Mr Evans.

Prosecutor Andrew Moran QC, told the court that Barrett created a "fictional" story also alleging that at the time of the killing his mental responsibility was substantially diminished by a personality disorder. Mr Moran said the Crown rejected Barrett's claims, and maintained he intended to kill Mr Evans.

"The prosecution say there was no provocation and no loss of control," he said.

Mr Evans died on July 21, after letting 35-year-old Barrett move into his flat in Moorhey Road, Little Hulton, because he had just been made homeless.

The next morning Barrett, who was agitated, sweating heavily, and crying, went to a former girlfriend's home and told her: "I have done something bad. I think I have killed Terry."

Barrett, who has pleaded not guilty to murder, told her that when he lived in a children's home he was the victim of a homosexual rape, and claimed Mr Evans had also tried to molest him.

"I couldn't stop it happening then, but I did stop it happening now," he added.

Mr Moran said Barrett told his ex-girlfriend and another woman that he woke up to find Mr Evans making sexual advances to him.

He said he "lost it" and hit him with a hammer.

When he was arrested later his solicitor gave police a prepared statement in which Barrett said Mr Evans used heroin and crack cocaine, and had been taking drugs before Barrett fell asleep on a settee.

The next thing he could remember was being woken up by Mr Evans trying to sexually assault him.

"I pushed him off. He toppled over because his trousers were around his ankles," he said.

"I was groggy from my medication. I tried to leave by the front door but couldn't because it was locked.

"I suffered a panic attack and picked up the hammer to scare him away from me.

"I hit him because I felt frightened and horrible. I was in shock and medicated."

In the statement Barrett said he had a complex medical history and had been raped when he was a boy living in a children's home.

"I believe what happened with Terry was connected with those factors and had a real bearing on how I behaved," he said.