A homeless man watched helplessly as his friend bludgeoned murder victim Lea Williams around the head 30 times with a metal pole, a court heard.

Edward Phillips said he could not intervene as he stood yards away from fellow street drinker Michael Clark as he clubbed Lea Williams to death in the Hove seafront 'bat caves' in February.

Phillips told the jury at Lewes Crown Court yesterday he did not tell police about the attack in the three days before they found Williams' body or the two months before he was charged with murder because he was fearful of repercussions.

He said he had seen what Clark “was capable of” and was worried for the safety of himself and his family.

The pair have both been charged with Williams' murder.

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Phillips also told the court he had been sleep deprived by police officers when he reportedly requested to change his statement after three days of questioning in April.

A police officers' report stated Phillips told his solicitor he was “feeling guilty” about his statement and that he didn't want to “drag anyone down with him”.

In court, Phillips claimed he had been suffering from sleep deprivation, was confused and feeling “guilty” for what had happened to Williams.

The court heard that Phillips and Clark had gone to Hove seafront for a drink on February 8, but went to the 'bat caves' where Williams was resting because Clark “wanted a word with him” following an earlier altercation outside the post office in Portland Road, Hove.

Phillips claimed further words were exchanged before Williams grabbed a ten inch metal pole he kept with him for protection and lunged at Clark.

Clark punched Williams and then grabbed the pole and then repeatedly hit Williams over the head in an attack lasting three minutes.

Phillips told the court Clark instructed him to take off his jeans and jacket which had been splattered in blood and gave him a pair of beige tracksuit bottoms.

The pair then met up with Lauren Bishop, who is charged with conspiracy to murder, and Phillips claimed he told her about the beating.

Speaking yesterday in court, Phillips said: “I knew what he was capable of and that he could tell people that I was a grass and grassing on him.

“I was concerned about my own safety being in confined spaces in prison, I knew to be seen as a grass I could be severely scolded, could be stabbed, could be slashed, anything could happen.

“In the community of street drinkers or the criminal fraternity, it would be seen as grassing which could mean harm to one's self or one's family.”

Phillips also told the court that Clark was the “sole person” who took the life of Williams.

He added: “I wouldn't have wanted any harm to come to Lea, he was a friend of mine.”

The case continues.