A TEENAGER on trial for murder denied punching the victim and holding a knife to his throat.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is one of five people standing trial over the murder of Farnworth man Ian Bendall.

Alex Smith also known as Colgan, aged 28, William Coughlan, aged 25 and Kathryn Colgan, aged 24, all of Ramsay Avenue, Farnworth, as well as Ellis Hampson, aged 19 of Oakfield Avenue, Little Hulton and the 16-year-old boy all deny the murder of Mr Bendall.

Giving evidence at Manchester Crown Court yesterday, the teenager was questioned about the events leading up to Mr Bendall's death on June 13 last year.

The court heard how the boy was involved in helping Smith to supply drugs and on June 9 he was sent to go and find Mr Bendall and did so at Gaynor Rothwell's house in Masefield Drive, Farnworth.

The prosecution believes that Smith was seeking out Mr Bendall because he had given him drugs to deal and he had let him down.

The jury was previously told by the prosecution how Mr Bendall was taken to land behind Century Mill, Farnworth and given a punishment beating before he later died in hospital.

Stephen Meadowcroft QC, defending Smith, questioned the boy about when he first arrived at Miss Rothwell's house.

He said: "When you went to Gaynor Rothwell's house and Taffy (Bendall) came to the front door, Gaynor Rothwell says that you punched him in the mouth and it bled."

The boy responded by saying that this was not correct and when questioned by Mr Meadowcroft on why he believes Miss Rothwell was lying said 'that is what I am trying to wonder out'.

The boy claims that Smith then left in the car he had arrived in and he was told to stay there and watch Mr Bendall.

However, Mr Meadowcroft put to him that he went with Smith and Mr Bendall also went in the car to land near Anchor Lane, Farnworth, to deal drugs before returning to the house in Masefield Drive.

Mr Meadowcroft said: "I suggest eventually Taffy says he remembers there are some drugs at Gaynor Rothwell's and you go back."

The boy disputed this.

He said: "No I stayed at Gaynor's. That is what I got told to do. All I did was wait there."

Miss Rothwell has stated how when the boy and Mr Bendall returned to the house he was holding a knife to the victim's throat.

Mr Meadowcroft said: "She says that when you went to the door with Taffy you had a knife to his throat."

The boy also denied this.

He said: "I never went to the door and I never had a knife. I don't know a 16-year-old would would hold an adult at knifepoint."

He added Miss Rothwell may have been lying because when he was waiting at the house he 'took the Mick' out of her.

He was also questioned about whether he had ever seen Smith be violent towards anyone and said he had not.

Mr Meadowcroft said the boy was not as frightened Smith as he appeared to be but the teenager said he would be if he got on the wrong side of him.

The trial continues.