A CLOSE friend of a man accused of murdering Birmingham taxi driver Mohammed Arshad said he told her he had done “something bad”, a court heard.

Andrew Bayliss, aged 29, of Kings Norton, has denied killing the 36-year-old.

Michael Burrows QC, prosecuting, alleged Bayliss stabbed Mr Arshad through the skull before leaving him lying in a ditch.

Mr Arshad, who had suffered a brain injury, died in hospital a day after being found on July 22, 2009, in Wast Hills Lane, near Hopwood, south of Birmingham.

At Worcester Crown Court, the jury heard from Tatana Zackova, who said Bayliss told her she could not live with him any more around the time of the murder.

“When I asked why he said I would hate him because he had done something wrong, something bad,” said the witness, from the Czech Republic.

Through an interpreter Ms Zackova said Bayliss told her he had attacked or assaulted somebody.

“He was scared,” she said. “I told him to go to the police.”

A week after the body of Mr Arshad was found, Bayliss went away to France where he sent Ms Zackova a text message saying he felt “stupid and unsafe”.

“I hope my life isn’t over. I don’t know if I’ll feel better where I’m going. I’ve cut my hair and got a beard. Madness! I should be going on a trip with you, not running from you,” he wrote.