By Mark Bowen A TENBURY Wells man found strangled in May last year suffered from a form of autism and could not understand why his killer shunned him after he accused him of rape.

Police investigated the allegation made in January last year but decided not to prosecute. Adrian Palmer, aged 21, could not comprehend why his relationship with Ben Murphy, now on trial for his murder, deteriorated after this, the jury heard.

Murphy, 20, of Kyreside, Tenbury Wells denies murder but has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Palmer.

Rex Tedd, QC for Murphy, told Worcester Crown Court that Mr Palmer suffered from Asperger syndrome. The condition meant he did not understand the repercussions of his rape accusation Mr Palmer, of Bromyard Road, Tenbury, was seen following Murphy around The Vaults in Teme Street, Tenbury, on the evening of May 19.

"Ben simply turned his back on him and did not want to speak to him," Mr Tedd said. "Adrian would not leave him alone."

Adrian's mother, Jeanette Morgan, told the trial her son did not like animosity and wanted to be accepted.

"He wanted to be able to speak to Ben Murphy and know that everything would be all right when he went out," she said. "With his Asperger syndrome Adrian could not understand why they could not be friends."

Robert Juckes QC, prosecuting, told the court the background to the case went back to January last year when Adrian took an allegation of rape against Murphy to the police. The matter was investigated but no prosecution was forthcoming.

"Ben Murphy was angry that the allegation had been made and it would appear that was very much the background and explanation for what was to follow," said Mr Juckes.

He said Murphy was taunted in Tenbury following the allegation and Mr Palmer moved away from the town briefly.

While living with his mother in Wales, Mr Palmer was told over the phone by Murphy that he would be killed when he came back to Tenbury, Mr Juckes claimed.

The court was told the two men were seen chatting in The Vaults in Teme Street on the evening of May 19. Murphy asked Mr Palmer outside to sort out their problems at around 11.30pm.

The two men then went to the flat of one of Murphy's friends where they had some more drink, Mr Juckes said. He claimed Murphy strangled his victim at the Teme Street flat, which he was looking after for a friend, at around 2.30am on May 20.

As the pair drank wine, Murphy asked Mr Palmer about the rape allegation. Something was said that made Murphy lose control, the court heard Murphy tripped up Mr Palmer, got on top of him, and applied pressure to his neck until he stopped kicking. He then moved the body to a car park behind the Teme Street library, the prosecution claimed.

Mr Juckes said that Murphy had lied to the police and told them he had killed his victim in the street.

Postal worker David Jinks discovered the body at around 4.15am.

Mr Juckes said Murphy re-appeared at the scene and told Mr Jinks: "I have strangled him - it's Adrian Palmer. He has been following me."

The case continues.