A father accused of murdering his wife's new partner together with his son told police he had been acting in self-defence in relation to an earlier attack, a court has heard.
Wayne Peckham, 49, and son Riley Peckham, 23, have gone on trial at Norwich Crown Court having both denied the murder of Matthew Rodwell.
The 39-year-old died at the home of Wayne's wife Kerry - with whom he was in a relationship - in Bulrush Avenue, Downham Market on January 23 last year.
The trial has heard that just weeks before the pair were involved in a joint attack on Max Hudson and his step-father Justin Henson in Downham Market on December 4 2021.
On Thursday (February 2) the jury heard Wayne Peckham being interviewed by police in relation to the incident which occurred after his son Riley was called a "rapist" by Mr Hudson's girlfriend in Tesco earlier the same evening.
Wayne told officers his son had been accused of being a rapist and insisted "my son has not done that".
He said Riley had been upset and had said "Dad, I just want to go and see her and tell her my side".
Wayne had not wanted to get involved but agreed to take Riley.
After arriving at the address Wayne said he heard "shouting" and saw his son being hit in the face.
He said: "I've gone to pick Riley up and as I did I felt something cold and hard hit me on the left side of my head."
Wayne went onto tell police that: "It felt like there was a football team there.
"Two or three of them trying to hit me.
"I just got overwhelmed."
He said he had been "acting in self-defence" and had tried to push them away.
He said: "I feel like I was the victim".
Riley was also interviewed by police following the incident but "exercised his right of silence", answering no comment to all questions put to him.
As well as pleading not guilty to murder, Wayne Peckham, of Manby Close, Hilgay, has denied assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Kerry Peckham on January 23 last year.
He has also denied two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and another assault in December 2021.
Riley Peckham, also of Manby Close, has denied murder as well as assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to the December 2021 incident.
The trial continues.
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