Fireman Mr Gordon Graham yesterday told a Belfast jury that he was innocent of murdering father of three Mr Paul Gault.His former lover, Mrs Lesley Gault (34), denies the murder of her husband Paul, who was found battered to death in their Audley Avenue home, Lisburn, on May 19th, 2000.
Yesterday, Mr Graham's defence QC, Mr Andrew Donaldson, called him to the witness box of the Crown Court, telling him: "Will you look at the jury", before asking: "Did you kill Paul Gault?" Mr Graham immediatley replied: "No, I did not".
The assistant divisional fire officer, of Wheatfield, Ballygowan, Co Down,admitted having a two-and-a-half-year affair with Mrs Gault, but said that since being freed on bail he has returned to his wife, Hazel, who was standing by him. He said he'd told his wife all about his affair and that she'd also read all the love letters he'd written to Mrs Gault during that time, but now he and his wife had resumed a "normal matrimonial relationship".
Mr Graham said he first realised he was a prime suspect in the murder after police had asked him to account for his movements on the day of the killing. The police told him of Mr Gault's murder and Mr Graham said initially he "didn't know what to think or say" because he'd never been in such a situation before.
Mr Graham said when police asked him about his locker at the fire brigade headquarters in Lisburn, where he and Mrs Gault worked, he told them of the love letters he'd written to her. He said he'd kept the letters out of "sentimental value" and because he'd no reason to destroy them.
The trial continues.