A MAN accused of murdering a taxi driver over a £2 cab fare has denied intending to kill the father-of-four.

Mark Baker and another man are alleged to have attacked 46-year-old Tariq Javed when a row started after they refused to pay him the cash.

But Baker told a jury at Manchester Crown Court he only punched Mr Javed while trying to help his friend during a struggle.

"I didn't want to cause him serious injury and I didn't want him to die," said Baker.

He was giving evidence at the trial in which he and 30-year-old Jason Power deny murdering Mr Javed and also deny robbing him of his taxi and his coat. A third defendant, teenager David Hawkins, also pleaded not guilty to the robbery charge and last night Judge Simon Fawcus directed the jury to clear him after legal submissions.

Mr Hawkins, aged 17, of Hazel Avenue, Bury, walked free after the judge told the jury a key ingredient of robbery was the use of force and the prosecution did not say that he was involved in the violence.

The jury has heard that Mr Javed was killed in a "vicious, cowardly and disgraceful" attack after picking up the men in Bury where they had been celebrating Baker's 21st birthday.

It in claimed that he was punched, kicked and stamped on and, as he lay defenceless in the roadway and his car was then driven over his body.

Punching

He died at the scene after suffering skull fractures and injuries to his face and ribs.

In evidence, Baker, of Kingfisher Drive, Bury, said he and his friends had decided to run off without paying but when the taxi stopped Mr Javed wanted his money and grabbed hold of Power.

He did not know how they ended up outside the cab but Mr Javed and Power were punching each other so he tried to help and also became involved in punching.

"It ended when I think we knocked him out," he told the jury. "He fell to the floor and his eyes were dazed."

Baker said he never kicked Mr Javed. He denied anyone in the car was laughing and said he drove to the grounds of Fairfield Hospital where he left the car and ran off.

When he heard later that Mr Javed had died he felt "ill" and could not believe it, he added.

The trial continues on Monday.