An Ipswich drug user accused of being involved in the murder of a Trimley man has told a court he thought it was “a bit of a joke” when he was arrested, a court has heard.

Giving evidence at Ipswich Crown Court today Jason Ruby accepted that when he was arrested his response had been “crack on” because as far as he was concerned he wasn’t involved in the killing.

He said that when he was charged with the murder he had started taking the matter more seriously.

He told the court that on the day of 41-year-old Dean Stansby’s death he had been at a flat in Gippeswyk Road, Ipswich, which had been used as a base by the “AJ and Sky” drug supply ring with his co-defendants Daniel Kaganda and Tecwyn Parker.

He said Parker had gone out to supply drugs to someone who turned out to be Mr Stansby and had come back shortly afterwards.

He said Kaganda and Parker had left the flat again shortly afterwards and he was told to go with them because he wasn’t allowed to stay in the flat with the stock of drugs.

Ruby claimed he had stayed near the corner of Ancaster Road and Gippeswyk Road with Kaganda while Parker went down the road to where Mr Stansby was waiting.

He said he had been concentrating on his mobile phone and shortly afterwards had seen Parker run past him.

He said that when he got back to the flat in Gippeswyk Road Parker had admitted stabbing Mr Stansby.

Ruby, 45, of Risby Close, Ipswich, Kaganda, 24, of London, Parker, 48, formerly of Downside Close, Ipswich and Amiadul Islam, 25, of London, have denied murdering Dean Stansby on February 8 last year.

The court has heard that Mr Stansby, who lived in Trimley, had come into Ipswich on the evening of his death to buy drugs from the “AJ and Sky” supply ring.

Parker, Kaganda and Ruby allegedly confronted Mr Stansby in retaliation for him allegedly trying to rob Parker of drugs on an earlier occasion.

Islam was allegedly in telephone contact with them and encouraging what was happening.

The trial continues.