Man had 'no idea' why murder accused attacked him, jury told

Timothy Wilson told the Winchester Crown Court trial he still had no idea why Alex Banda attacked him on the night of December 16 last year.

Banda is accused of assaulting Mr Wilson by beating him at Chapman’s Hotel in Frances Road, Bournemouth, after allegedly committing an attack which amounted to the murder of Daniel Upson.

Mr Upson was pronounced dead the following morning after emergency services were called to the property.

Giving evidence on day three of the trial on Wednesday, May 17, Mr Wilson said he was asleep in his room at the hostel when he woke up to a banging noise.

He told the court the sound was coming from Andrew Loder’s room on the same floor, which is where prosecutors allege Banda punched, kicked and stamped on 47-year-old Mr Upson.

“I remember someone said that's enough, that's enough Zac, leave it or along them lines," Mr Wilson said.

The trial has heard that Banda was known as Zac by residents at Chapman’s Hotel.

Mr Wilson said he went to his door to see what he could hear from the other room when fellow resident Adam Dancey 'offered him a joint'.

He said he took up this offer and went to Mr Dancey’s room.

"I went into his room, sat down on his bed, and I get attacked," Mr Wilson said.

Mr Wilson, who admitted to being a drug user, said he was attacked by Banda after the defendant came into the room.

"He punched me straightaway," Mr Wilson told the court. "In my face, on my cheek."

Mr Wilson said he believed the defendant punched him as hard as he could with his hands in clenched fists.

"Still to this day I have no idea why he attacked me," Mr Wilson said.

He added: "I asked him what was all this about and why was he starting on me."

Chapman's Hotel (Image: Newsquest)

The witness told jurors "it came as a total shock to me". He said the defendant put his finger up to his lip in a manner to tell him to stay quiet.

Mr Wilson said Banda told him: “You are a dead man too Tim, you are not leaving this room."

Resident Samuel Hicks “came to my rescue”, Mr Wilson said, by putting the defendant in a bear hug, which allowed him to leave the room. He went back to his room and barricaded his door, the court heard.

During cross-examination from James Newton-Price KC, Mr Wilson said he did not know Banda had a store of drugs down the side of a chair in Mr Loder’s room.

Mr Wilson said he bought drugs from the defendant in the room earlier on December 16.

He denied there being an intimation from Banda during the alleged assault that the defendant believed the complainant had stolen his drugs.

The court heard that Mr Dancey told police Mr Wilson asked him for a spliff while the noise was coming from Mr Loder’s room. Mr Dancey said he agreed to give him one later on but Mr Wilson pushed his way into Mr Dancey’s room.

In his interview, Mr Dancey said the defendant then came into the room and told Mr Wilson to get on the bed before Banda started attacking him.

The events that followed in his room were a “haze”, Mr Dancey said, but he thought Mr Wilson was struck about five times.

He said: "I don't know what the whole incident is about.”

Mr Dancey added: "It is a complete shock to me."

The defendant kept saying to Mr Wilson “you need to give me answers” and “you need to tell me”, Mr Dancey said.

After the incident, Mr Dancey said he and the defendant went into Mr Loder’s room and lifted Mr Upson, who had a bloodied face, onto the bed and gave him first aid.

Mr Dancey said the defendant was apologetic a short time later, saying “what the **** have I done” and “I hope he doesn’t die”.

Giving evidence in court, Mr Dancey said he suggested they call an ambulance after he saw Mr Upson on the floor of the room. He said others present told him not.

Asked why he did not phone 999, Mr Dancey said he was “fearful for my own life”.

Banda, 28 and of Frobisher Avenue, Poole, denies murder and assault by beating.

The trial continues.