A murder accused has admitted repeatedly punching his alleged victim as he lay on the floor but said he was still alive when he left him.
Matthew Pope told the High Court in Aberdeen he had started fighting with Michael Given in the sixth-floor Elders Court flat after being hit on the head with a mallet.
Pope denies murdering Mr Given on July 21 last year and has lodged special defences of incrimination and self-defence.
Pope told the jury that he had gone to the flat as he was concerned about threats made to him by Mr Given.
He told defence QC Brian McConnachie that when he got to the door Mr Given had hit him with a mallet and he had then punched Mr Given in the throat.
He said the two men had started fighting and Mr Given fell to the floor.
Pope told Mr McConnachie that he had punched Mr Given in the face repeatedly to prevent him from getting back up.
He said that his girlfriend then arrived and told him to stop, at which point he left the flat.
Pope said that Mr Given had still been trying to get back up when he left the flat.
He denied holding aloft a piece of wood in the living room and striking Mr Given with it.
Pope will be cross-examined by prosecutor Douglas Fairley later on Thursday.
The trial continues.
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