A MAN accused of murdering Alan Lee Street has admitted he hoped the body would never be found.

Peter Leonard denies involvement in the murder but admits helping move the body.

On his second day of giving evidence, Leonard, 52, of Trinity Street, Oswaldtwistle, was cross-examined by prosecutor John McDermott QC.

Leonard said he was horrified when he saw the body at the house in Stockbridge Road, Padiham, after meeting co-accused Allan Palmer.

He said Palmer told him he had gone too far and asked for help to “sort it”.

“I went in there and tried to think what to do,” said Leonard.

He said he put a bag over Street’s head and got bricks from his garage and tied them to the body.

He said: “We decided we’d get rid of the body.”

Mr McDermott asked: “Forever?”

Leonard said: “Yes.”

Mr Street’s body was found dumped in a culvert in January at Woodnook, Accrington, after his disappearance and the discovery of the blood-splattered property in Stockbridge Road just before last Christmas.

Mr McDermott challenged Leonard’s claims not to have asked Palmer what had happened to Mr Street.

“You didn’t have to ask him any of those obvious questions because you knew perfectly well the answers.”

Leonard replied: “That’s complete and utter rubbish. I didn’t kill him.”

Palmer, 44, of Stockbridge Road, Padiham has pleaded guilty to murder. Leonard, Ian Palmer, 45, of Whitegate Drive, Padiham, and Kieron Davison, 21, of Lancaster Drive, Padiham, deny murder.

(Proceeding)