A TRAVELLER accused of murdering his brother-in-law told a court: "I did not kill him, I loved him.

And Shane Manson, 23, also rejected claims that he confessed to his great uncle on the night of the killing, as his defence case started on day five of the trial at Preston Crown Court.

Manson denies murdering 19-year-old Eammon McDonough, whose body was found near Manson's caravan behind the Moorings pub off Bolton Road, Blackburn, on January 29 this year.

Manson, originally from Darlington, quietly answered the questions of David Fish QC, defending, the first of which was: "Did you kill Eammon McDonough?"

Manson: "I certainly did not."

Mr Fish: "Did you inflict any harm or injury to him at all that morning?"

Manson: "No, definitely not, no."

Mr Fish: "Did you have any argument or row with him?"

Manson: "No."

Mr Fish: "What were your feelings for Mr McDonough?"

Manson: "We were like brothers, very close."

Mr Fish: "We heard evidence from your wife who said you loved him."

Manson: "That's true."

Father-of-two Manson then told the jury his account. He said on January 28 he called at the McDonough family home in Brothers Street, Blackburn after they had fallen out earlier that day at a doctor's surgery in Accrington.

But Manson told the jury Eammon came out of the house when he pipped his horn and the two decided to go out together. Initially, they went to a pub in Green Lane, Mill Hill and had about five bottles of beer and snorted cocaine through a straw in the toilets.

They then went back to the caravan after stopping off to buy some vodka and Red Bull. Manson said: "Later we decided to get some more cocaine. We left on foot for Mosley Street because it was known for drugs and we thought we would take a chance. When we got near we asked four youths for some cocaine. They said 'we can't get drugs for you gipsy ******'."

Manson said he and Eammon were chased off and got separated so he hid behind a bush. Manson added: "I could hear shouting. I knew there was a good chance they had caught Eammon." He told the jury he then went to his great uncle Hughie Manson's house in Mill Hill Street. Earlier in the trial Hughie Manson told the jury that his nephew confessed to the killing at that time.

But Manson said: "I said 'I've done it. I have done it. I have got Eammon half-killed' -- meaning by the four youths. I knew I had done wrong by leaving him."

Manson told the jury that he then went to Brothers Street and then with the McDonough family to his caravan compound where he found Eammon injured.

Anthony Gee QC, prosecuting, queried why Manson had not sought help from the nearby travellers' site in Ewood. Mr Gee also asked why Manson had not called 999. Manson said: "We are travelling people and we deal with things ourselves. I am being honest, I have been from day one."

(Proceeding)