A 17-YEAR-OLD accused of murdering Big Issue seller Ralph Millward told a jury on Thursday how he thought he had only “roughed him up”.

The teenager, the second of three young defendants to give evidence at Winchester Crown Court, said all of them had launched into the alleged attack, aiming kicks at Mr Millward when he turned down their request for tobacco.

But when they had left the scene, the youth told jurors how he thought the gang had just “given him a bit of a scruff up”.

The teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, all deny murdering the homeless man in Westbourne last May.

The 17-year-old told the court that each of the trio had landed kicks on Mr Millward.

Asked why he joined in the kicking, the teenager said: “It was just something stupid. I wasn’t really thinking what would come of it.”

While his friends targeted Mr Millward’s head and chest, the 17-year-old said he had kicked their alleged victim in the hip.

Earlier this week, the 15-year-old defendant told the jury he had played no part in the assault.

Asked if he thought they had caused serious or even fatal injuries to Mr Millward, the 17-year-old replied: “No, not at all.”

The teenager admitted drinking most of a two-litre bottle of cider before the alleged attack and said this had blurred his memory of events.

The 17-year-old was caught on CCTV later wheeling a trolley round to Mr Millward with the other older defendant.

He told the jury how he waited for his friend to rifle through Mr Millward’s pockets before pushing the trolley in his direction and walking away.

Mr Millward’s lifeless body was discovered under the upturned trolley a few hours later.

The 17-year-old has admitted manslaughter but denies Mr Millward’s murder.

The case continues.