Mark-Bry Leedham tells the court Michael Purse pulled a knife on him and demanded ‘better drugs’

The man accused of murdering Michael Purse before rolling him up in a carpet and leaving him in the boot of a car has told a court his alleged victim attacked him first.

Michael Purse’s body has never been found. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

The man accused of murdering Michael Purse before rolling him up in a carpet and leaving him in the boot of a car has told a court his alleged victim pulled a knife on him and tried to attack him first.

Giving evidence in his own trial for murder, Mark-Bry Andrew Leedham last week told Auxiliary Justice Kevin Nicholson that his alleged murder victim, Michael Jeffrey Purse, lunged at him and hit him in the head because he suspected he’d supplied him “bad drugs”.

Mr Leedham has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder, with two co-accused men already serving prison sentences for manslaughter.

The body of Michael Purse, who was last seen alive in February 2019 before his alleged murder, has never been recovered.

Mr Leedham, giving evidence in his own defence, said he had only known Mr Purse for “a few months” before he went missing.

Michael Jeffrey Purse was last seen on February 6, 2019 in Adelaide. Picture: Australian Federal Police

His body has never been recovered.

“(We) had a good relationship. Sometimes not so good,” he said.

He said the evening of his alleged murder, Mr Purse attended a home with Mr Leedham and consumed methamphetamine.

“He had a few puffs of the pipe and complained about the quality,” Mr Leedham said.

“Saying it wasn’t strong enough.

“You could tell he was very high.

“Then he lunged at me, he jumped and hit me at the same time (with) his fist.”

He said Mr Purse then pulled out a knife from his waistband.

“It was silver with a wooden handle, it was old,” he said.

“He pointed it at me and demanded better drugs.

“I tried to tell him to calm down, it’s all the same, but he kept going on, saying I'm lying and to give him the good stuff.

“Then I proceeded to grab his wrists and a scuffle arose

“He was heavily under the influence and highly agitated.”

Mr Leedham said the pair fell to the ground during the “scuffle” and Mr Leedham tried to disarm Mr Purse, but didn’t see the knife when it stabbed one of them.

“I later realised it had gone into him,” Mr Leedham said.

Police searching along Shepherds Corner Road for the remains of Michael Jeffrey Purse, who is believed to have been buried in a shallow grave in the area. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Police have identified that a green 2000 Daewoo Lanos hatch, pictured, is believed to have been involved in the disposal of Michael Purse's body. Picture: SA Police

“As soon as we went to the ground, I got up and then I seen (sic) the knife in him.”

He said he never asked for tape, and Mr Purse’s hands were never taped together during the ordeal.

“(A co-accused) then came in and said ‘what the f*** happened’ and said ‘Go, I’ll deal with this f*** head’.” he said.

“I saw (Mr Purse) moaning against the wall, and then I’ve gone to my car and left.”

Mr Leedham told Justice Nicholson that the morning after Mr Purse’s alleged murder, he had sent him a text to check if everything was okay.

“Hey, everything OK? Chuck me a call,” he allegedly texted Mr Purse the next day.

He said he didn’t know where Mr Purse was when he sent him the texts, and he had messaged to try and “speak to him”.

“At the time I didn’t know he was dead. I needed to contact him.”

Mr Leedham told the court when he went back to the unit the next day and asked about Mr Purse, the co-accused men said it “went to far and they dealt with it”.

“Did you know, when you left the unit in the early hours of the morning on 7 February 2019, that Mr Purse was either dead or being assaulted by anybody else?” defence lawyer David Moen asked.

“No I did not,” Mr Leedham replied.

The trial continues.