Murder accused worked for Eminem

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A 36-year-old man accused of murder over a cannabis factory told a court he had been employed as "protection" by rappers, including Eminem.

Paul Harrison was allegedly hired as a "heavy" to beat up Vietnamese immigrant Tran Nguyen, who was dumped at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital in 2006.

But the 6ft 9in (2.1m) Londoner said his job was not to use violence.

He is standing trial at Cardiff Crown Court with five other men, who all deny murder. The case continues.

Asked by his barrister Godfrey Carey what his work involved, Mr Harrison replied: "Standing around making them look good, to build up their status."

He said his role was to "stand there looking pretty".

He said his business cards read "MVP Protection, Close Protection Specialist" and were promotional cards like a painter and decorator would use.

Asked by Mr Carey if he had worked for anyone well known, Harrison listed Eminem, The Game and actor Eddie Murphy's wife among his employers.

Mr Harrison added: "It's nothing to do with violence, it's about diffusing any violence."

Head injuries

Mr Nguyen, 44, was allegedly beaten at an address in New Road, London, after he was accused of stealing from the cannabis crop he tended in Newport.

Mr Harrison, together with Bac Phoung Nguyen, 30, of no fixed abode, Quynh Van Huynh, 51, of Caldwell Street, London, and Thanh Van Le, 31, Son Van Nhu, 24, and Cong Van Le, 48, all of Canterbury Road, Feltham, Middlesex, all deny his murder.

He told the court that he went to the address in New Road with Mr Huynh on November 19, 2006, because Mr Huynh said his nephew needed help with a problem.

Mr Harrison said he did not find out that Mr Nguyen had been killed until his arrest in July 2007: "I didn't know nothing. I didn't hear nothing. I didn't have a clue why I was arrested."

He said they were only in the house for 10 minutes and that there were a group of people talking to Mr Nguyen, who was sitting on a bed.

Paul Harrison said he had worked for rappers like Eminem, pictured

"He was hit with a bunch of people around him," he said.

He said he made no contact with Mr Nguyen himself.

Father-of-two Mr Nguyen had arrived in Dover from Germany in the back of a lorry in September 2006, and found work at the cannabis factory.

Two months later, he was carried into the Royal Gwent Hospital by two men who fled the scene, and he subsequently died of head injuries.

The prosecution said Mr Nguyen, who had worked for the Vietnamese government and army, claimed he and colleague Bac Phoung Nguyen were tied up at knifepoint at his house in Keynsham Avenue, Newport, on November 17 while other men stole the crop.

After freeing themselves, the men reported the theft to Le Minh Tu and Tan Hoang Cai, who they worked with, and the matter was discussed with Mr Huynh, who the prosecution described as "the boss".

On November 19, Mr Nguyen was taken to New Road with Bac Phoung Nguyen, who later admitted to police "he knew there was going to be torture and felt compelled to attend", the prosecution said.

Bac Phoung Nguyen claimed "a black man", Mr Harrison, had been hired to carry out the attack.