THE YOUNGEST person accused of murdering Carlisle man Lee McKnight was heard after the tragedy saying: "Jamie Davison hit Lee too hard and that's how he died," a jury heard.

The comment was allegedly made during a phone call made by 18-year-old Jamie Lee Roberts to a man who told Carlisle Crown Court that he had been the "best friend" of 26-year-old Mr McKnight, whose body was found in the River Caldew south of Carlisle on July 24.

The man was testifying as the trial moved towards end of the second week of evidence.

Six people - including Roberts, of Grey Street, Carlisle, Arron Graham, 25, of Blackwell Road, Currock, and 26-year-old Jamie Davison, of Beverley Rise, Harraby - deny murder.

According to the prosecution, these three defendants subjected Mr KcKnight to a "severe beating" after he was "lured" to Charles Street, Carlisle, early on July 24 last year because he was in debt to Davison.

Roberts' father Paul, 51, also of Grey Street, and two women - Coral Edgar and her mother Carol Edgar, 47, of Charles Street - are accused of helping them.

Giving evidence, the witness who said he was Mr McKnight's best friend recalled a "Snapchat" conversation with Jamie Lee Roberts over his phone on July 31, a week after Mr McKnight had died. He said Roberts asked him why he was "looking for him," and he explained that he believed the teenager had something to do with Mr McKnight's death.

The witness said: "He basically said he didn't do anything and that his dad was taking the rap."

The man said Roberts said his father Paul was taking an "M" charge - understood to be a reference to a murder charge. The teenager said his father had "taken clothes" to "them."

The witness added: "He said Jamie had hit Lee too hard and that's why he'd died." At the time, said the man, Roberts was with Arron Graham beside a river in Armathwaite.

The witness went on to tell the court that Graham "took control" of the phone and threatened him, saying that he would "chop off his head and put him in the river like he did with Lee McKnight."

Mr McKnight was found dead in the River Caldew shortly after 5am on July 24.

A pathologist has confirmed that he drowned. The prosecution say that Mr McKnight was transported to the river in Carol Edgar's black Nissan Navara jeep.

The trial continues.