DANIEL Palmer, who is standing trial accused of murdering a homeless man in Three Bridges, told a friend "I lost it, it was going to happen some time," a court has heard today.
Palmer, 24, is accused of beating up Portuguese national Joao Esteves and putting a cord around his neck and pulling it tight.
He is then said to have taken photos before leaving Mr Esteves for dead.
Palmer denies murder and claims Mr Esteves, 45, pulled a knife on him, causing him to defend himself.
This afternoon prosecutor Paul Valder told jurors that Palmer had been the aggressor and that "it was simply not in self defence".
Mr Valder told jurors that Palmer phoned friend Roy Hancock on the afternoon that Mr Esteves died and said: "I lost it, it was going to happen at some time. I know I'm facing the 'M' charge now."
The jury was also told that Palmer had told Mr Hancock that a man had come at him with a knife and he had "taken him to the alleyway and beaten him".
It is claimed that Palmer first attacked Mr Esteves in the car park outside KwikFit, in Stephenson Way, Three Bridges, before dragging him to a nearby alleyway.
Mr Valder added that between 6.06pm and 7.30pm on Sunday, January 19 - the day on which Mr Esteves was injured and died - Palmer made 43 calls and sent five text messages to his cousin Chloe Snowdon, in an apparent attempt to stop her talking to the police.
Among the texts, the court was told, was one which read: "If I go down I will do myself in. Simple."
The jury was told Palmer returned to the scene where Mr Esteves was fatally injured twice.
On one occasion he told a police officer that he had been walking past the alleyway at between 2.45am and 3am when he heard people arguing.
The police officer took his mobile phone number as she said he could be a witness.
Palmer left the scene and when she reported the incident on her radio she was told he was a suspect.
Palmer was then phoned and asked if he could return to the scene to give a witness statement.
He is alleged to have said that he couldn't as he had things to do and asked to be called back in an hour.
Later in the day he agreed to meet up with police in Tilgate Parade, and when he arrived he was arrested on suspicion of murder.
When interviewed on January 20, 21 and 22 every question was answered with "no comment", the court was told.
Both Miss Snowdon and Mr Hancock had already called police by the time Palmer was arrested.
Miss Snowdon did so after reading on the Crawley News website that a man was in a coma after being beaten up.
Mr Hancock did the same when he read that the man had subsequently died.
Palmer denies murder. The trial continues tomorrow (Thursday).
