A MAN accused of being involved in a savage beating of a Bury taxi driver who died from his injuries, described his own actions at a murder trial as "appalling and shameful" .

But Jason Power, aged 30, said he only punched and kicked 46-year-old Tariq Javed during a struggle. He said Mr Javed must have suffered head injuries which killed him when he fell backwards.

Power told a jury at Manchester Crown Court: "I didn't have any intention of causing him any harm, I just wanted to get away."

He denied kicking father-of-four Mr Javed of Richard Burch Street, Bury, while he lay defenceless on the ground, and told the jury he was appalled and ashamed about what happened.

Power, of Cheltenham Road, Manchester, was giving evidence at the trial, in which he and Mark Baker, aged 21, deny murdering Mr Javed and stealing his private hire car and his jacket.

A third defendant, David Hawkins, aged 17, of Hazel Avenue, Bury, was cleared of the robbery charge on the direction of the trial Judge.

The private hire driver died from skull fractures, and also suffered injuries to his face and ribs, when a row started after the men in his car refused to pay a £2 fare.

The prosecution has described the attack as "vicious, cowardly and disgraceful". Mr Javed was allegedly punched, kicked and stamped on.

The men then sped off in his car with Baker driving. The car went over Mr Javed's body.

Power told the court that he knew nothing of any plan not to pay Mr Javed, after they had been out celebrating Baker's 21st birthday, and he was "caught unaware" when the others jumped out as the taxi stopped.

He claimed Mr Javed grabbed him and he shouted to Baker to give him help. The driver's door then opened and Mr Javed ended up on the pavement.

Power told the jury that Mr Javed and Baker were "exchanging blows", so he tried to pull the driver away and they both fell. Power wanted to get away, and, as the taxi driver was getting up, he hit him and "kicked him away from me".

He added: "He fell back, I got up and he was on his back unconscious, but I didn't see him hit the floor."

The taxi was set on fire in the grounds of Bury's Fairfield Hospital, and Power told the jury he though Baker must have started the blaze.

They all ran off and Power took some £1 coins from Mr Javed's jacket and used it to pay for another taxi fare.

Proceeding