Accused claims Albrighton attack trial is all a 'mistake'
A man accused of barging in to a private home and hitting the owner on the head with a hammer claimed it was all a "mistake", a court heard yesterday.
Karl Gardner is on trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court for the attack on Kenneth West in which Mr West's partner was also injured and which was witnessed by their 12-year-old son.
Taking the stand 33-year-old Gardner, of Bishopdale, Brookside, Telford, said he had no idea how his fingerprint came to be on the door frame of Mr West's house in Albrighton.
He claimed he wouldn't know how to get to Albrighton and Mr West, his partner and son were "not familiar" to him.
Under examination by the prosecution, Gardner said he had had been working at a number of properties in Albrighton around the time of the attack but did not recognise Mr West's house.
"This is a mistake, I should not be here," said Gardner. "I have no idea how my fingerprint got there.
"I do not recall being in that house."
Mr West suffered head wounds in the attack while his partner, Amanda Medlyn, was cut on the arm.
The prosecution claims the intruder who attacked Mr West with the hammer was 33-year-old Karl Gardner.
Gardner denies aggravated burglary in May 2009.
He further denies wounding Mr West, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, an alternative charge of unlawful wounding, and assaulting Miss Medlyn, causing her actual bodily harm.
The trial continues.
