16-year-old claims he tried to help victim out of the water.
A 15-year-old arrested on suspicion of the murder of Robert Gill, who was drowned in the River Ouse in Bedford, told police that the victim had fallen backwards over a bridge when he was being assaulted.
The youth, now aged 16 who cannot be named, denied he was involved in the violence or the robbery of Robert, and claimed to police he had tried to help him out of the water but then lost sight of him.
He said he did not see a lifebelt to use and could not make an emergency call because his mobile phone was dead.
The prosecution alleges that 17-year-old Robert, from Wilstead, was picked on as an easy ...