A Belfast man accused of murdering an elderly neighbour admitted yesterday that he had burgled the home of Mr Andrew Spence (78) in Battenberg Street, but denied having anything to do with killing him.
Mr William Murphy (21) told Belfast Crown Court that he took £11 from the man's house two or three weeks before Christmas 1996, but he claimed that he was baby-sitting for his uncle and was with his girlfriend and baby son on the weekend the pensioner disappeared in January 1997.
The defendant said that he only told police about the burglary when they revealed that his finger and palm prints had been found in the home of Mr Spence.
The trial continues today.