A MAN accused of murdering an Ipswich charity worker was today painted as “a bully and an alcoholic” by a friend jointly accused of the crime.Paul Waters claimed Robert McCarry would regularly drink during the day and was heavily drunk on the night 34 year old Nicola West was allegedly murdered.

A MAN accused of murdering an Ipswich charity worker was today painted as “a bully and an alcoholic” by a friend jointly accused of the crime.

Paul Waters claimed Robert McCarry would regularly drink during the day and was heavily drunk on the night 34 year old Nicola West was allegedly murdered.

During police interviews read to a jury at Ipswich Crown Court, Waters said: “I would describe him as an alcoholic because he does get up in the morning and drink all day”.

He added that following Miss West's death he and McCarry drove around for two days with the woman's body in the boot of the car.

He said he had wanted to go to hospital or a police station but had been “forced” to drive around “endlessly”.

He said: “I said it's (going to the authorities) was the right thing to do. I knew it was the right thing to do.

“We were on our way a few times but then veered off and went another way because he told me to drive somewhere else.

“He said what about my daughter. I wouldn't argue with Rob. I thought about it, but he said no go in another direction and I did.

“The one time I stood up to him he beat me up so I didn't stand up to him. He's a bit of a bully.”

McCarry, 36, of Vernon Street, Ipswich, and Paul Waters, 29, of Sandpiper Road, Ipswich, have denied murdering Miss West of Leather Bottle Hill, Little Blakenham in February.

McCarry has also denied two offences of raping Miss West on February 8 and Waters has denied attempting to rape her and aiding and abetting McCarry on one of the rape charges.

Both men have denied perverting the course of justice and McCarry has denied conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

It has been alleged that McCarry raped Miss West in a flat in Vernon Street after meeting her in the Punch and Judy pub in Ipswich.

He and Miss West had then been driven to an area near the dry ski slope at Wherstead by Waters where McCarry had raped her again and Waters had allegedly attempted to rape her.

Miss West allegedly died after being strangled by McCarry and he and Waters had then driven around for two days with Miss West's body in the boot before handing themselves in at Ipswich Police Station.

The trial continues.