A MAN accused of murdering his ex-wife by setting fire to her has told a court that she was lying to police over threats he was alleged to have made to her.
Ahmad Yazdanparast, 61, was giving evidence at the High Court in Edinburgh where he is accused of murdering his former wife Ahdieh, 46.
He denies the crime and maintains that he was acting in self-defence.
Advocate depute Tim Niven-Smith pointed out statements Yazdanparast's former wife had given to police officers in 2011 and 2012 about threats to kill and pour acid on her.
It is alleged that he assaulted her at the Venus Hair and Beauty Salon in Maxwell Place, Stirling, and poured petrol or a similar flammable substance over her head and body, ignited it and set fire to her on October 12 last year and that she was so severely injured she died later that day in hospital.
The advocate depute pointed out that the court had heard evidence that Mrs Yazdanparast told a police constable who went with her in an ambulance after the incident that it was acid and petrol thrown over her by her ex-husband. But Yazdanparast said: "That's lies."
When asked if he murdered her he said: "No, never ever. My hope is to look after my children, especially my little boy. He lost his mother. I lost my wife."
The trial continues.
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