A BASINGSTOKE man, who is accused of offences related to the death of another man, told police that he did not know that his brother – who is also an accused in the case – dealt cannabis, a court heard.

Winchester Crown Court on Thursday, May 4, heard a transcript of a police interview of Ricky Lewis, 40, from Candover Court, Basingstoke, conducted on October 3, 2022.

In the transcript, Lewis was heard as saying he only knew his brother Scott Neale among the four others accused in the case, and he had no knowledge of his brother being involved in the dealing of cannabis.

As previously reported, Frazer Brabant was assaulted and found with serious head injuries in the back garden of a house in Gershwin Road on October 31, 2019.

READ MORE: Basingstoke dad was attacked for stealing cannabis, court told

The 31-year-old father-of-two was taken to hospital where he died on January 21, 2020.

A trial of five men accused of offences involving his death started at Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday, April 19.

The five men are Scott Neale, 35, from Spindle Close, Oakridge; Lee Wood, 32, from Griston, Thetford, Norfolk; Forhad Miah, 32, from Chestnuts Close, Oakley; James O’Connor, 24, from Fairfield, Whitchurch; and Ricky Lewis.

Scott Neale has pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge, while Wood, Miah and O'Connor pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Lewis has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges.

In the 20-page transcript of the police interview, Lewis is heard saying he was not involved in the conspiracy or the attack.

He also told police that he did not know Mr Brabant, Miah, Wood and O’Connor.

However, the prosecution has submitted a collection of phone data of the accused, in an attempt to prove the conspiracy to attack Mr Brabant.

SEE ALSO:  Frazer Brabant murder trial begins

According to the prosecution, Mr Brabant was attacked as a “revenge” for a robbery that took place three months before the day of the attack.

The jury was told that Mr Brabant attacked Neale in his home in Basingstoke and stole some cannabis. 

Prosecutor, Michael Burrows KC said Neale, along with Miah, Wood and O’Connor attacked Mr Brabant with weapons, resulting in very serious head injuries.

Investigation officer Dan Hunt, who gave evidence on Thursday, May 4, produced a presentation of all the phone communications exchanged between the accused and key witnesses on the days following the robbery.