A MURDER suspect accused of driving over a pensioner with his four-wheel-drive car claimed the tragedy was an accident and he only read about the death in a newspaper the next day.
Christopher Grenfell, 25, made the statement as he gave evidence in his trial at the High Court in Glasgow for the alleged murder of 76-year-old James Simpson.
The retired lorry driver is said to have died while trying to prevent his Land Rover Discovery being stolen from outside his home in Ashgill, South Lanarkshire, in November last year.
Grenfell said he accepted he took Mr Simpson's 4x4 after removing the car keys from his house.
He previously offered to plead guilty to the culpable homicide of Mr Simpson.
Under cross-examination, Andrew Stewart, QC, prosecuting, suggested to Grenfell that he was responsible for killing someone.
The accused replied: "By accident."
Mr Stewart continued: "It was not an accident."
Grenfell said: "It was."
The advocate depute added: "I suggest that it was not an accident – it was murder."
The accused said: "I would not murder anyone."
Grenfell earlier claimed he had stolen the Land Rover on the orders of Neil Loggie, who has denied involvement.
Ian Duguid QC, defending, asked: "You said that it was Neil Loggie's enterprise. Did you know what he was going to do with the car?"
Grenfell replied: "Sell it on – it was already sold before it was stolen."
Grenfell said he was to receive £1500, which he was going to split with co-accused William MacVicar, 24.
Grenfell went to Mr Simpson's home with MacVicar on the night of November 29.
He smashed a window with a rock, snatched the keys and jumped into the Land Rover.
He recalled being in the driver's seat as Mr Simpson then tried to pull him out.
The trial earlier heard how Mr Simpson had raced out of the home he shared with his wife Minnie to stop his vehicle being taken.
Grenfell said the pensioner fell as he was "side-stepping and just lost his footing".
He told the court he looked out of the open door and did not see Mr Simpson.
He eventually heard screaming before driving away from the scene as he had "panicked".
Mr Duguid said: "One account we have heard is that the car was driven three to four car lengths up the road, stopped, then reversed back down and it has gone back over Mr Simpson."
Grenfell said: "That is not correct – that did not happen."
He said the "main priority" was to "get the car and get away".
The accused insisted he did not know he had left Mr Simpson fatally injured.
He told Mr Duguid he learned about the death the next morning in the newspaper.
The QC asked: "Did you set out to kill Mr Simpson?"
Grenfell said: "No, never."
Grenfell and MacVicar no longer face an allegation that they attempted to defeat the ends of justice after the charge was dropped by prosecutors.
MacVicar – who does not face the murder accusation – is now only charged with being involved in the theft of the Land Rover.
In his closing speech, Mr Stewart urged jurors to convict Grenfell of murder.
He added Grenfell acted with "wicked recklessness" and had "not cared if James Simpson lived or died".
Grenfell's defence is due to give closing speeches today before trial judge Lord Burns gives legal directions to the jury.
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