A MURDER accused told detectives the last time he saw missing financial adviser Lynda Spence she was frightened and bound to a chair by tape.

David Parker, who denies murdering and abducting Ms Spence, made the comment when he was interviewed by police on October 31, 2011.

The interview was conducted by Detective Constable Nicholas Eaton, who was giving evidence at the High Court in Glasgow at the trial of Parker, 37, Paul Smith, 47, Philip Wade, 42, and Colin Coats, 42. They deny abducting and then torturing Ms Spence at a flat in West Kilbride, between April 14 and April 28, 2011.

It is claimed they murdered Ms Spence on April 28, 2011, after torturing her to obtain financial information and then cut off her head and disposed of her body.

Solicitor General Lesley Thomson, QC, prosecuting, played the jury the tape of the interview.

Parker told DC Eaton that Ms Spence was held in his home at Meadowfoot Road, West Kilbride, for between 11 and 13 days.

During the interview, Parker said: "I had no part in hurting her or anything like that at all .I fed her, gave her tea, smokes."

Parker said he had been asked by his friend Smith if someone who was in trouble and owed money could be kept at his flat.

He added: "I didn't know what it was about at the time. He said it might happen and might not happen. A day or two after that he said the thing was on. I took him up to my flat and he said people would be coming soon."

Parker told the court a woman was brought to the flat. He said he later found out the woman was Ms Spence.

He said he was frightened of Coats and a man he only knew as Philip, and claimed that, during the time Ms Spence was at his flat, hacksaw blades were pushed through his letterbox.

He told detectives: "When they put the hacksaw blades through my door I realised it was high-duty serious."

He was asked by DC Eaton how Ms Spence was physically and replied: "A couple of bruises on her face, I think.

"I didn't want to look at her. I didn't ask for this. I had no idea how serious it was."

Parker was asked: "Was she free to move about?" He replied: "No, she was stuck in the chair and taped."

He said there was tape round her torso and the chair.

Parker was asked what state Ms Spence was in and he replied: "She was in a frightened state."

He was told the police had information she had more injuries than a couple of bruises, and Parker said: "I know she was injured, but I didn't know in what way. I didn't want to know."

Minutes later Parker added: "I think she was punched about quite a bit."

The trial continues.