A MAN accused of being part of a gang that murdered Christopher Lemonius has denied carrying out the killing because of 'loyalty' to his friends.

As the trial into the killing of the 27-year old at Jourdain Road, Blackbird Leys, continued at Oxford Crown Court yesterday Jason Needham, who is charged with murder, continued to give evidence from the witness box.

Prosecutor Stuart Trimmer QC quizzed Needham, of Kingsland Court, Luton, on his account of events on the night of June 1 last year, during cross-examination,

He put to the 27-year old during his questioning that he had 'complete loyalty to the group' and that he had been 'in it together in a revenge attack'.

Needham denied the assertion having already said that he was never at the scene of the killing that night.

Mr Trimmer also asked Needham why he never called police in the days following the murder once he had learned more of what had happened.

Needham answered that he didn't think he had done anything or had been involved in what had happened so did not contact police.

Earlier this week he told jurors that he ran from the scene in fear for his life from unknown assailants.

Prosecutors maintain that Needham - together with a gang of others, murdered Mr Lemonius in what they describe as a 'savage' attack.

Needham denies murder and the trial continues.