'˜Terrified' man admits industrial wrench killing

“I was terrified I was going to get the axe one way or another,” Colin Gale, 40, told a jury at Lewes Crown Court today.

“I had hit him now, it was like poking an bear ­– he was intent on getting me with the axe at that stage,” Gale said, telling the court that Mr Manning had attacked him with an axe.

Mark Manning was last seen alive in April 2014. It was not until last year that remains identified as Mr Manning were found near Hampshire Hill in Mid Sussex, more than 20 miles from where he lived.

Gale has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Manning. Another man, Stewart Robertson, 51, denies preventing the lawful burial of a body.

Gale himself appeared in the witness box today, giving evidence to the jury and answering questions from his defence counsel, Michael Bromley-Martin QC.

Gale told the court how he had owed Mark Manning £17,000 on April 19, 2014, the day Mr Manning disappeared, but only had about £2,000 in cash.

He said Mr Manning came to visit him at his workshop and found out he did not have the money.

“He got a bit stressed,” Gale told the court, saying Mr Manning then walked away.

“On his way out I said something sarcastic to sort of let him know it wasn’t going to be today [that he would get the money],” Gale said.

“I was trying to cheer him up because he wasn’t very happy.”

“I was looking down and when I looked up I saw him coming back,” Gale told the court. “He had an axe in his hand.”

“He came towards me, it was all so quick,” Gale said.

“He swung the axe towards me. I was up against the wall. All I could find was a handle of something which I picked up and swung in his direction to keep him away from me,” Gale said.

“I knew that I had hit him,” he told the jury, breaking down in court and shaking as he spoke. “I didn’t know it was in the face.”

Gale said the object he struck Mr Manning with was a metre-long, industrial Stillson wrench, which was heavier than he had expected.

“Then I just went out of control,” he said.