A MAN accused of murdering Christopher Lemonius in a Blackbird Leys alleyway told jurors he was never present during the onslaught and had instead run away from unknown assailants.

Jason Needham from Kingsland Court, Luton, is alleged to have been party to the violence at Jourdain Road on June 1 last year in which Mr Lemonius was murdered.

As his trial at Oxford Crown Court continued yesterday the 27-year old took to the witness box to give his version of events.

He told jurors that on the night of the killing he had gone towards Blackbird Leys Park but had not seen any of the apparent violence which erupted there at around 11pm.

He said that he had fled the scene after he was 'chased' by unknown assailants.

He told jurors: "I was running to get out of the area. Because I am getting chased by someone."

Needham claimed he then went to an address at Reedmace Close where he stayed until the next morning.

Jurors were also told of a phone call between Carlos Spencer - who has already been convicted of murder, and Needham at 11.43pm that night.

Explaining the call Needham told the court: "At the time he called me and asked me where was I when he ran into the field and what happened to me.

"We were just talking and we were telling stories to each other and trying to work out who were the boys in the field. I didn't talk to him for the rest of the night I don't think."

Needham denies murder and the trial continues.