A MECHANIC standing trial for the murder of bomb disposal expert Mark Manning has come under scrutiny for not claiming self defence when charged.

Colin Gale, 40, of Offington Lane, Worthing, is accused of murdering his friend Mr Manning at P&B Car Sales in Western Road, Worthing, on April 19, 2014.

Gale, who ran the garage, said he used a one-metre long industrial wrench to kill 54-year-old Mr Manning after being attacked with an axe over a £17,000 debt for the sale of two vehicles.

Arguing he had acted in self defence, Gale has told the court: “He was just raging... I was terrified I would get the axe in me.

“I couldn’t tell you what words he used. It happened so quickly. He was swinging the axe towards me and I said ‘Mark what are you doing?’.

“I didn’t know he was being serious until he started swinging the axe.”

Duncan Atkinson QC, prosecuting, said: “Was there any reason why you did not state that you killed Mr Manning in self-defence when you were taken into custody and read your rights on May 6, 2015? It seems awfully strange that you would not make this clear at the time.”

Gale told the jury he was “too busy with his own thoughts that day” and it didn’t cross his mind to do so.

Gale said he picked up the wrench to protect himself as he was backed against a wall in the garage and after hitting Mr Manning two or three times, he collapsed on the floor.

The defendant said he called out for Stewart Robertson, 50, who was next door, as the confrontation was taking place and Robertson then appeared once Mr Manning was beaten to the ground.

He claims that he got rid of Mr Manning’s phone down a drain and the next morning Robertson joined him to place the body in a transit van to dispose of in the countryside.

The jury at Lewes Crown Court heard Mr Manning’s body was dumped in an opening in a hedgerow at Hampshire Hill near Slaugham.

The 54-year-old from Lancing was missing for two years before his body was found there.

Gale’s defence barrister Michael Bromley-Martin said: “Mr Manning died from injuries to his face and skull.

“He died at P&B Motors in Western Road, Worthing.

“Colin Gale was responsible for his death.”

Gale said: “I didn’t know what to do at the time. I knew if I called the police I would go to prison there and then.”

There was a dispute in court over the details shown on the custody report written by an officer at Hollingbury Police Station, where Gale was charged.

The report stated that Gale made a comment asking to speak to another solicitor other than Christopher Chatterton, the man who accompanied him to custody.

Both Gale and Mr Chatterton deny this request was made by the defendant.

Mr Chatterton said the custody report was incorrect and there must some sort of “generic error” made and that he could not answer why “an officer may or may not have typed a certain thing into the report”.

Gale denies murder but has admitted preventing lawful burial.

Robertson, of St Aubyns Road, Portslade, denies preventing lawful burial.