Cork murder-accused is ‘heartbroken over friend’

A MURDER-accused told a trial yesterday: “I am heartbroken over my friend, I cannot understand how he died — I wasn’t hitting him that hard.”

John Paul Walsh said he and victim John McManus fought over a missing phone after they partied together in a Cork flat on cider and prescription tablets.

“When I look in the mirror I can see John as well — it’s not just myself anymore. I’m going to have to live with this for the rest of my life. I still can’t believe it,” Walsh weeped, as he began his testimony at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.