A disc jockey today told a murder trial jury he threatened to break into a locked pub because he expected to find the licensee’s body inside.

Andrew Barrass said he believed Kevan Worrall was dead and his gay partner had “done a runner with the takings”.

Callum Adams, 39, who lived at the Seven Stars in Greengates, Bradford, with Mr Worrall, admits killing him but denies murder.

Mr Worrall, 46, was smothered to death at the pub in Harrogate Road on Sunday, September 13, last year.

Mr Barrass, who worked as a DJ at the pub, said he saw Adams and Mr Worrall arguing outside on the Saturday night. Mr Barrass said that at midday on the Sunday, he and his wife, Alison, saw the Seven Stars was locked up. A note in the window said: “Closed due to ill health. At hospital. Back later.”

Mr Barrass told Bradford Crown Court he alerted the police at 3.30pm and rang them again two hours later. He called Bradford Royal Infirmary and learned Mr Worrall had not been at the hospital.

Mr Barrass told the jury he warned the police he would break in unless they took action. “I knew they were going to find a body and that Callum had done a runner with the takings,” he said.

Alison Barrass told the court Adams repeatedly said he hated Mr Worrall the night before he was killed, and was stressed and downing spirits.

“He said ‘Someone’s going to die tonight’,” she told the jury.

Prosecutor Paul Reid QC has told the jury that Adams claims he killed Mr Worrall in reasonable self-defence, or that he was provoked, or a combination of both. Adams has pleaded guilty to stealing the £1,000 takings and Mr Worrall’s mobile phone and laptop computer.

The trial continues.