A MAN allegedly involved in the murder of a cannabis drug dealer claimed he became embroiled in the incident as part of covert surveillance for a television programme looking into drugs supply.

James Raven, aged 45, of Parnham Close, Radcliffe, told Chester Crown Court how he had gone along with a scheme to steal equipment from a cannabis farm run by murdered man Brian Waters.

He said he believed this would lead to him to filming at premises belonging to one of the other accused, John Wilson.

Raven, along with John Wilson, aged 54, from Brickhouses, Marple Road, Glossop, Otis Matthews, aged 27, of Melbourne Avenue, Manchester, and Ashley Guishard, aged 30, of York Road, Sale, have all denied murdering Mr Waters. They have all also denied grievous bodily harm on Suleman Razak. Raven has also denied a charge of indecent assault.

The prosecution allege that Mr Waters, aged 44, was tortured and killed in a barn at Burnt House Farm, Tabley -- a property that the Waters family used to cultivate cannabis.

They claim that the murder was the result of a falling out between Wilson and Mr Waters, and a suspected debt of £20,000 following cocaine deals between the men.

Raven told the court yesterday how his cousin Christopher More had bought a horse box with the intention of using it for surveillance at cannabis farms.

And on, June 17 -- two days before Mr Waters' murder -- Raven said he agreed to do surveillance at Burnt House Farm in Tabley.

The court was told that More and Raven had allegedly been working for a programme called "Reef Madness" looking into drugs dealing, and had been carrying out work watching several cannabis farms.

More asked his cousin to assist in the repossession of the equipment, and Raven agreed believing that it would allow them access to Wilson.

Raven said he felt the matter was really a simple repossession, but that the dark clothing and balaclavas had made him feel uncomfortable, so he had opted to wear a high visibility jacket so he stood out from the others.

The court heard victim Mr Razak was dragged to the cowshed where he was tied up and then hung upside down and then placed in a water barrel upside down.

Raven claimed he tried to stop Mr Razak's tormentors and eventually kicked the barrel over, but Matthews then threw some sort of caustic substance on Razak's back.

"I was trying to get them to stop and was saying, 'he's had enough, he's had enough'," said Raven.

The court heard how Brian Waters was the next to arrive at Burnt House Farm and he was punched by More and Matthews and taken to the farmhouse and then to the cowshed. He was tied by his feet and then suspended by a rope over a beam.

"Otis Matthews used him like a punchbag", said Raven.

Mr Waters was then beaten with a bamboo cane and hit with a metal bar, and then tied to a chair.

The case continues.

KILLED: John Waters