Although knocking back 11 shots of brandy and beer before allegedly killing a former Royal Marine, Blayne Shepard told the Durban Regional Court he was not paralytic.
"I was under the influence, but not paralytic," he testified.
Shepard is accused of beating Brett Williams to death outside Kings Park Stadium on the night of March 23, 2013, after the Sharks beat the Melbourne Rebels in a Super Rugby match.
Shepard said he drank beer and three single brandies and coke at the Coyote Supersuite box during and shortly after the game, and then another "three or four" double brandies and coke at the Rovers Club.
However, his fitness levels, weight, and amount of food he had eaten meant he was able to handle more alcohol than "an average-sized person".
Shepard testified that his friends and former co-accused -- Andries van der Merwe, Dustin van Wyk, his older brother Kyle Shepard, and accused-turned-State witness Grant Kramer -- were all under the influence of alcohol, but no one was intoxicated.
He however singled out Kramer, who he said had never been able to handle his alcohol, and was therefore "bubbly and happy" following the R17 special on double spirits at Rovers.
Kyle, who had consumed only Castle Lites, was "fine".
The group had each faced a charge of murder, three of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, one of crimen injuria, and one of public violence.
On November 7, the court discharged three of the four men.
Magistrate Trevor Levitt ruled "uneasily" that the evidence against Kyle Shepard, 25, Van der Merwe, 23, and Van Wyk, 23, did not meet the required standards for a trial to proceed.
He said he had come to the conclusion that he had not heard the full story, and made specific mention of Kyle seemingly being "more involved than what meets the eye".
Shepard was discharged of the assault, crimen injuria and public violence charges, but still faces the murder charge.
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