A man claimed he tried to stop an attack on two homeless street drinkers, a court heard.
Paul Hamlet told police he tried to pull Adam Todd, one of the alleged attackers, away.
He said Todd would not come so he walked off because he did not want to get involved.
Hamlet and Todd were among five men arrested after the attack on Matthew Heading and his friend Joe Burton.
Mr Heading, 41, died from a ruptured spleen two days after the attack outside Glenwood Lodge hostel in Grand Parade, Brighton, on June 21 last year.
In a police interview, Hamlet said he was with Todd and his partner Caroline Hughes when Joe Budgen came around the corner with Oliver McNulty.
Hamlet told officers Budgen had asked Todd to help him because two men had "started"
on his sister.
He said: "I grabbed Adam to try to stop it but he would not come away."
Christine Laing QC, prosecuting, alleges five men either took part in the attack or encouraged the others to do so.
Todd, 25, of Ropetackle Walk, Shoreham, Budgen, 19, of Ann Street, Brighton, McNulty, 18, of New England Street, Brighton, Hamlet, 32, of Falcon Court, Whitehawk, Brighton, and Martin Keeting, 28, of Taunton Road, Brighton, deny murder.
They also deny causing actual bodily harm to Mr Burton.
The trial continues.
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