A WITNESS has told how murder suspect Gerald Edwards was moving something in his Tolladine flat and would not let him in, just two days before the dismembered body of drugs dealer Michael Kelly was found.

Martin Locke told the trial at Birmingham Crown Court how he and Gareth Thomasson went round to the Teme Road flat on Tuesday, July 2, last year, shortly before the body, which had been sawn in half and had axe wounds to the head, was found dumped in Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire.

Mr Locke said 32-year-old Edwards, who shared the flat with 35-year-old Kelly, who hails from Liverpool, sub-let the flat from Mr Thomasson and owed rent.

Mr Locke said the pair had called for Edwards in the morning and as there was no reply, returned in the afternoon.

"Gerald was there and spoke to us, but would not open the door," he said. "He told us to go away."

He added Edwards seemed angry and it was clear he was doing something, as there was a noise.

When asked what kind of noise there was by Nigel Rumfitt, prosecuting, he replied: "Just a load of moving about behind the door."

Mr Locke added he and Mr Thomasson saw Edwards in a blue car in nearby Avon Road later that evening and again Edwards was agitated.

"He told Gareth to go away," he said. "He said 'You'll get me nicked' and was in a bad mood."

Another witness Sean Webb told how he had been in Edwards flat on Monday, July 1 and was shown a foot-long axe.

"He (Edwards) gave me an axe to hold and said 'feel the weight of that'. Like cast iron it was."

Edwards denies murder and Gary Wood, aged 46, from Lowesmoor, denies perverting the course of justice by concealing evidence.

Ashley Shearon has admitted perverting the course of justice and is expected to give evidence against the two accused.

The trial continues.