London:
'Psycho Stapleton', a Briton facing trial for the shooting of Indian student Anuj Bidve admitted the crime in a phone call he made to his brother from inside prison last week, a court heard today.
A recording of the 11-minute phone call made last Thursday by 21-year-old Kiaran Stapleton was played out in the Manchester Crown Court today.
He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but denies murder. 23-year-old Anuj Bidve was murdered on December 26 last year in Salford.
In the recording, the accused is heard telling to his brother Kyle: "I have just told my mam I want the cardigan from the Trafford Centre that I murdered Anuj Bidve with. I want that jacket. It's only 50 quid, in double extra-large or extra-large. Kyle, you will need to sort my clothes out. Adidas, proper nice." The jury was shown a grey Adidas top worn by Mr Stapleton on the night of the shooting, which is now an exhibit in the case.
Earlier in the trial, Mr Stapleton's friend, Ryan Holen, who was with the accused during crime and is now prosecution witness, claimed that calling the police anonymously after the incident would have endangered him and his family.
He described Mr Stapleton as a 'very tidy person', who worked at night in a factory that makes flags and banners and kept his room clean and tidy.
He said Mr Stapleton was 'very rigid' and 'odd' about what he drank.
Mr Bidve, a student at Lancaster University, was with eight Indian friends walking through the Ordsall area of Salford on their way to the Boxing Day sales when he was fatally injured. The accused fled the scene of crime but was arrested within days.