Lindsay Birbeck murder trial latest: defendant accepts moving body, but denies murder

The 17-year-old boy, who was 16 at the time of Mrs Birbeck's death last August, is appearing at Preston Crown Court.

Prosecution barrister Mr David McLachlan QC has been outling the case for the crown today in court.

Mr McLachlan said: "The defendant admits that he moved Lindsay Birbeck’s body on August 17th. He denies being involved at all in killing Lindsay Birbeck and states that he was asked to “get rid of the body” by a white male who spoke English who had his face covered with a hood.

"It is the Prosecution case that on August 12th Lindsay Birbeck was killed and the blue wheelie bin was taken towards the location of her body.

"The Prosecution case is that Lindsay Birbeck’s killer is the young man in the dock."

The court heard today that during an interview under caution on August 30th the defendant through his solicitor provided a prepared statement. It said the following:

"I did not murder Lindsay Birbeck. I was not involved in her death. I was not present at the time or place of her death.

I did move a body from an area off Burnley Road Accrington in a wheelie bin. At first I hid the body but later moved it again in a wheelie bin, taking it to the cemetery on Burnley Road where I buried it on my own.

"A man came up to me when I was walking alone in that area off Burnley Road and he asked me to “get rid of a body” for him. He said that he would pay me a lot of money when everything was clear.

"He showed me where the body was and he went away straight away leaving me to 'get rid of the body'.

"I have not met this man before. I have not met him since nor have I had any contact with him. He has not paid me any money. He told me that he would leave the money for me near where the body had been at first once everything was clear.

"I cannot describe the man other than to say he was white, male, spoke English. I could not see his face well as he was covering it with his hood. I am not sure of his height, build or age.

"Other than as above I do not wish to say anything further."

The trial continues.