A YOUTH, jointly accused of murdering a man on New Year's Eve, told a court yesterday how he decided to mug him "for a laugh".

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named, is accused with another teenager of murdering Malcolm Wilson, 46, who was on his way home from a party.

When asked by David Robson, defending at Newcastle Crown Court, why they attacked and robbed Mr Wilson, the youth replied: "I thought it would be a laugh and it was easy."

He said: "I just lost it, I started kicking him and stamping on him and things. I just lost control. I have no answer for that."

The court heard how Mr Wilson was lying on a pathway when the boys saw him.

The youth said: "When we first saw him we knew he was drunk by the way he was sprawled out on the floor. We couldn't understand what he was saying so we tried to help him up, but we couldn't."

The youths, who had been drinking all night in Sunderland, left him but attacked him minutes later. The youth denied wanting to kill Mr Wilson but admitted he did intend to do him some harm.

It is alleged the teenagers kicked, punched and stamped on Mr Wilson before stripping him from the waist down and leaving him to die from his injuries.

The case continues.