A man suspected of a murder more than 27 years ago told today of his one-night-stand with the victim.

Dundee man Brian Lindsay, 50, hinted that he and tragic nursery nurse Elizabeth McCabe might have remained lovers, if she had wanted him.

"I was with Liz McCabe one night," Mr Lindsay told the High Court in Edinburgh. "Liz never gave any indication it would have continued."

Elizabeth disappeared after a night out with friends in a Dundee's Union Street. Her naked body was found 16 days later in Templeton Woods on the outskirts of the city on February 26 1980 - the eve of what would have been her 21st birthday.

On trial is Vincent Simpson, 61, of 75 Longlands Way, Camberley, Surrey. At the time he was living in the village of Newtyle, near Dundee, and running a private hire taxi business.

Simpson denies murder, claiming he has an alibi - and a list of 13 other men who might have had a hand in Elizabeth's death.

First name on the list is Mr Lindsay who has a number of previous convictions for violence and dishonesty.

The trial has also heard that former saw mill worker Mr Lindsay was quizzed by murder hunt detectives perhaps 18 times and, on one occasion, accused them of trying to "fit him up" for the killing.

During his second day as a witness Mr Lindsay continued to protest he had nothing to do with the disappearance or death.

"I knew one day I would get into court and prove my innocence. I didn't murder that lassie. There is no way I murdered that lassie."

In spite of 25 years of improvements in forensic science techniques, he added: "They have not found any of my forensics on the lassie's body."

Mr Lindsay also denied suggestions put by defence QC Mark Stewart that he was "using Elizabeth McCabe for sex" and that they had had intercourse more than once.

He described as "a total lie" a statement he is said to have given police on the day her body was found which said he and a friend, train driver Charles Lamont, took the nursery nurse to Mr Lindsay's then home in Logie Street, Dundee, for sex, on four occasions.

The trial also heard that Mr Lindsay was looking for sex on the night Elizabeth McCabe disappeared.

In accounts given to police at the time and in court Mr Lindsay told how he finished a night's drinking with friends in the Tay Centre bar in Dundee city centre, strolled with them to their bus stop then went to catch a bus home to his Logie Street flat.

Mr Lindsay said when he got off the bus he went to a telephone box to call a girl who had given him her number when he had chatted to her previously in a pub.

He asked to visit her home, but she told him no.

Mr Lindsay then went into his flat, obtained another 20p and went back to call the girl again and continue their conversation.

"You were looking for sex that night," suggested Mark Stewart QC, defending Simpson.

"That still doesn't make me a killer," retorted Mr Lindsay.

He denied the lawyer's claims that he knew that when Elizabeth had a tearful row with her friend Sandra Niven in the toilets of Teazer's disco in Dundee's Union Street, the argument was about Elizabeth's plan to visit his home.

"I have never been informed of that in my life," said Mr Lindsay. "That comes as a total surprise to me."

He also denied there had been an occasion when he had seen Elizabeth at his door, but had not answered her knock.

Mr Lindsay also denied there was any truth in a statement his mother, Bella Westwater, made to police about him arriving home eating a fish supper.

He insisted he did not have any supper night - and did not meet Elizabeth and share a meal with her.

The trial also heard about the finding of the nursery nurse's handbag in Cobden Street, a few hundred yards from where Mr Lindsay lived.

Widow Elizabeth Reid, 52, said she regularly visited a patch of derelict ground there, where people dumped rubbish, because it was a good place to look for scrap metal.

On April 12 1980 she found the bag there which "looked like new" and still contained Elizabeth McCabe's college ID card, but no cash or purse.

Mrs Reid said she took the bag to a nearby hairdresser's shop to call police who arrived and taped off the unofficial tip.

She also said she returned about two or three weeks later and saw a pair of black suede shoes which didn't look as though they had been there long because they were not weather damaged.

This time she did not call police.

The trial continues