A drunk and "drugged up" dad who killed a wheelchair-bound vulnerable amputee allegedly told police: "I’m glad I did it and I’ll do it again," a court heard.
Daniel Sharples subjected Michael Mairs to "a brutal attack " last October, underneath a railway bridge, in Warrington.
A court heard how the martial arts enthusiast tipped the 53-year-old out his chair during a "vicious" assault from which the victim died three weeks later, on October 28.
After 37-year-old Sharples was arrested, in Warrington town centre, officers told him Mr Mairs had been rushed to hospital, seriously hurt.
But today Liverpool Crown Court heard how Sharples allegedly told police: "The guy in the wheelchair...the one who sold my son smack.
"Well I’m never gonna go against that.
"I’m glad I did it and I’ll do it again”.
"He’s f*****g nearly killed my 15-year-old son, he’s in a coma and yous[sic] have done nothing."
The jury heard how the teenager has given a statement stating he has never taken drugs, and does not know Mr Mair.
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Sharples also alleged Mr Mair had supplied the drug Spice to his son, but neither the teenager, nor his step-son, say they have ever taken the substance.
After this apparent confession, Richard Pratt, prosecuting, said Sharples appeared to backtrack on his earlier admission.
The lawyer said: "A little later, perhaps realising that what he was saying might not be helpful, he said he wanted to "take it back because I am drunk now, I take it all back.
"I have not touched that guy.
"Because you shouldn’t really be asking me this stuff.
"I’m p****d up."
When one witness tried to persuade Sharples to end his violence, indicating the police were on their way, he replied: "I don’t give a f*** , he’s been selling Spice to my 15 year old son."
The trial has heard how Sharples ordered pints of lager, pancakes and Sambuca shots for breakfast in two pubs in Warrington town centre.
Prosecutors say the parent was "wholly intoxicated on alcohol and Valium," and that he claims to remember nothing of the incident.
Sharples has admitted killing Mr Mairs, who suffered from chronic alcoholism, but denies his murder.
A female barmaid in the Hope Pole pub served him at 11am, on October 6, and when told he needed to spend a minimum of £5, he ordered a Sambuca shot, along with his pint.
Twenty minutes later, he ordered four more shots, giving two to another customer, who he didn't appear to know.
Sharples, she said, thought he was in an ice cream shop, and asked her if his mobile phone had been found, despite having given it to her to charge the battery earlier.
The dad had "undoubted prowess and skill" in martial arts and had videos of himself on Facebook launching high kicks onto targets, the jury heard.
Those clips were played to the jury.
One woman, who had come to Warrington for a hen do, and saw Sharples kick Mr Mairs to the face, described it as a "round kick, the type a martial artist might use."
A bus driver also watched as Sharples punched Mr Mairs in the face, as he was sat in his wheelchair, followed by further kicks to his head while he was on the floor unconscious.
Another witness said: "It was like something from a film, like a karate kick, it looked hard and fast.
"The attacker’s leg went quite high to kick him in the face.
"I think the force of the kick sent the wheelchair flying backwards with the man in it.
"She saw the defendant grabbing the chair and tipping out of it before kicking him again.
"People appeared terrified, I could hear members of the public gasping as he was attacking the victim."
Mr Mairs, was described by prosecutors at Liverpool Crown Court, as a "much-loved father to his son and daughter and he had a young grand-daughter as well.
Mr Pratt added: "His health had not been good over the years.
"His medical records describe him as suffering from chronic alcoholism, and deep vein thrombosis which ultimately led to the partial amputation of his left leg, which confined him to a wheelchair.
"He also had cirrhosis of the liver."
Sharples, of Grisedale Avenue, Warrington, denies murder.
(Proceeding)
