The man accused of killing Andre Le Dinh allegedly said "if I didn't kick him in the head one too many times maybe he'd still be alive" after watching a news bulletin about the incident, a court has heard.
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But the witness who allegedly heard the comment says her memory is "terrible" after years of drug use and admitted using heroin around the time of the incident.
Corey James Martin, also known as "Budgie", is facing a committal hearing in the ACT Magistrates Court charged with murder, robbery and conspiracy to murder.
The 38-year-old has pleaded not guilty, and the prosecution has made several witnesses available for cross-examination during the committal stage.
Mr Le Dinh's body was found in his fourth-floor apartment in the Oracle Complex in Belconnen on May 20, 2010.
He had suffered extensive head injuries.
A woman this morning told the court she, Martin and another man were sitting in her apartment watching television in the days following the alleged murder.
The witness said when a news bulletin about Mr Le Dinh's death came on television Martin said, "If I didn't kick him in the head one too many times maybe he'd still be alive".
She said as he said it Martin had a "little smirk" on his face.
The woman also said she overheard the pair talking about cash and cannabis allegedly taken during the incident.
But under cross-examination from Martin's barrister, Shane Gill, she said she was using heroin and cannabis at the time while grieving for her recently deceased son.
She also gave details of a conversation she later explained she did not really hear, and described her memory of the time as "terrible" because of drug use.
The witness also agreed she went to prison about a month after the alleged incident after a breach of parole.
Martin's co-accused, Rebecca Krutsky and her daughter Camilla, are expected to be committed this week to stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court.
The hearing continues.
