ONE of the men accused of threatening to kill a key witness in a murder trial if he gave evidence said he was “too smart” to do something like that.

George Kirika and three other men allegedly kicked and punched terrified John Amadasun after branding him a “snitch”.

Mr Amadasun was present when teenager Eze Eke killed a father-of-one in the street outside a city centre night spot.

He was called to give evidence for the prosection in the 17-year-old’s trial, but in the days before he was due to appear in court Kirika and Byron Haines, Callum Spencer, and Dexter Williams are accused of visiting his flat and threatening him.

Kirika, 20, told the jury: “I am smarter than going to intimidate a witness.”

Williams, 22, of Coriander Way, Oxford, Kirika, of Woodin’s Way, Oxford, Haines, 20, of Henley Street, Oxford, and Spencer, 19, of Nettlebed Mead, Oxford, deny charges of intimidating a witness.

Haines also denies breaching an Asbo through using violence against Mr Amadasun.

The trial at Reading Crown Court continues.