A labourer on trial for murder told a jury he only discovered there had been a killing when he read about it on KentOnline.

Levi Webb, 22, of Scholars Rise, Strood, has denied stabbing anyone or knowing victim Peter Beale had been stabbed to death.

Webb said later his drugs “boss”, Billy Dole admitted he thought he had killed him.

He told the jury: “On the journey back I said to Dole: ‘You knocked him out cold’. He said: 'I think I killed him.'

“I just thought he was paranoid. I didn't think he would stab him in the way he did.”

The following day he was back out on the streets selling drugs when he was told a body had been found near Rochester Bridge.

“I told my girlfriend and we checked on KentOnline and then I knew.”

“I just thought he was paranoid. I didn't think he would stab him in the way he did...” Levi Webb

His barrister Oliver Saxby QC asked: "You have admitted being involved in the supply of drugs. How long were you Billy Dole's drug runner ?”

He replied:"From April to September last year. I was given £3 for every rock I sold. I have sold drugs to fund my drugs habit."

Webb, who denies murder, told how he met Dole through a friend who set him up to work for him.

“We had stashes all around Strood in alleyways and other areas we called pods.

“There was a drugs phone which he gave to me and I would pick up the drugs and sell them. I would tell him I have got, let's say, £1000 and he would come and get the money from me."

He told how in September he received a call from Richard Barham to buy drugs and agreed to meet him.

He said: "At 9pm I went to meet Richard after he contacted me but it wasn't him but Beale who showed up.

"Richie told me a friend would come and I was sitting on a wall waiting. I didn't recognise the man who showed up. I had never met him before.

"This guy said he was Richie's mate and I suggested popping around the corner. He said no.

"As I went to get the rocks from my pockets he pulled this knife and put it to my throat.

“I told my girlfriend and we checked on KentOnline and then I knew...” Levi Webb

“I fell backwards. He said: “Give me the drugs. He was very aggressive. He saw I had a gold coloured watch. He thought it was expensive and told me to give it to him. So I gave it to him.

"I am panicking and he said :”Where's the money? I said I didn't have the money but I had £800 in my pockets. He didn't believe me and he began going through my pockets and he found the money.

“He called me a liar and he said:"What do you think you are doing and pretended to stab me. I flinched. He believed I had more drugs and started going down my trousers.

“Four or five people were then walking and he put the knife down. So I rolled away. I was six feet away and he shouted that I was not to touch his sister again

He said: "Stay away from my sister." But I think he was just covering up that he was robbing me.

He said after the robbery Beale walked towards Rochester Bridge and he walked towards Strood Railway Station.

He added: “I rang Bill and told him I had lost £1000 and some drugs. I said I had been robbed at knife point at Canal Road by Richie, I said it was him because he had set me up.

“Bill said:’Turn round and follow him. I'll be five minutes, “ he added.

Mr Saxby asked: "When you rang him did you think what he might do?

Webb replied:"No."

He added that he never believed Dole would arrive armed:”He's a big fella. I thought it would be alright. I wasn't armed.”

"This whole crazy situation was all about getting the money back..." Levi Webb

Mr Saxby: "Did you think he would turn up and kill Beale?"

He answered: "No. I thought there would be a scuffle. I thought Bill would use a bit of force just to get the money back."

He said he met him at a carpark. He told me not to worry as he knew Richie and the other guy would be a crackhead.

Webb added: “We walked into the alleyway side by side. I am feeling a bit more comfortable and told them they could have the rocks they were smoking but give me the rest.

"Beale then smashed a bottle and went for me. He was obviously on drugs. I am panicking. He was swaying all over the place and said he was going to smoke the lot.

“He then lunged towards me aiming for my face. But there was no contact. It was almost like slow motion.

"I see something in Bill's hand. I jumped back behind Bill and he's gone for Peter. I had contact with Richie. Beale and Dole are scuffling now.

"This whole crazy situation was all about getting the money back. I started to go to Richie. He's looking straight at me but not saying a word.

"His eyes are everywhere because he's on drugs. He never replied. He jumped back onto the corner of the railings and fell back on the bushes and stinging nettles. I started chasing him for about three or four steps.

"All I could see Beale's feet but I didn't know he was dying..." Levi Webb

"I turned back to see what was going on. All I could see Beale's feet but I didn't know he was dying. I never saw any wounds to his back or legs.

"I thought Beale was just knocked out. He was on the ground with a bottle in his hand. Bill told me to get the money. I am hesitating I could see the links of my watch in his pocket. I just grabbed the watch. I never took any of the money, “ he added

Billy Dole has admitted murder and will be sentenced later.

The jury at Maidstone Crown Court have heard how the drug deal went wrong and Mr Beale was stabbed in the back.

The trial continues.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

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