Tears shed in garden murder case

Teacher Alan Wilson's remains were found in an Edinburgh garden

A man accused of murdering an ex- teacher cried when he was told by police that his "best friend" had been found in a garden, a jury has heard.

In a video taped interview shown at the High Court in Edinburgh, Ian Sutherland told detectives he had "never hurt" the 51-year-old victim Alan Wilson.

The man's dismembered body was found in bin bags in a garden in Edinburgh last February.

Mr Sutherland denies strangling Mr Wilson and blamed witness Tracy Scott.

Video evidence

The jury of eight men and seven women spent Tuesday morning watching the accused man's first interview with Lothian and Borders Police.

Mr Wilson's body parts were found in a garden in Edinburgh's Merchiston Avenue shortly before the interview took place on 10 February.

Detective Sergeant William Stevenson, the deputy senior investigating officer, told Mr Sutherland he was being quizzed because the body of Mr Wilson had been found.

I know for a fact that I did not hurt Alan Wilson, I did not kill Alan Wilson Ian Sutherland Murder accused

Mr Sutherland fell silent for several minutes and then broke down in tears.

Asked what had happened to Mr Wilson, the accused replied that he did not know, and then asked for a lawyer to be present.

Asked why he wanted to see a lawyer, he said: "No, no, no, I'm not saying I hurt Alan or anything like that.

"You can't do that... I think it might be a good idea. I never, never hurt Alan."

Best pals

The accused told police his "best pal" Mr Wilson, whom he had known for about five years, was the guarantor on his flat.

In the afternoon, the court heard a taped police interview with Mr Sutherland.

He told detectives he last saw the dead man in the early hours of 2 February, after Mr Wilson decided to stay the night at his flat.

Mr Sutherland gave up his bed for Mr Wilson, with whom he had drunk a lot of wine, and he went to collect former girlfriend Ms Scott from a Salvation Army hostel she had been staying.

Ian Sutherland said Alan Wilson had been his "best pal"

He said Ms Scott stayed up all night drinking wine and added: "I know for a fact that I did not hurt Alan Wilson, I did not kill Alan Wilson.

"I know that for a fact."

Earlier in the interview, Mr Sutherland was quizzed about his sexuality and told officers that he knew Mr Wilson was gay and he did not have a problem with it.

He said he had "never" had any sexual relations with Mr Wilson and told police he was "totally heterosexual".

He added: "I seem to be getting that all my life, you know.

"They always think I'm gay, you know. I don't know, maybe I'm just too much in touch with my feminine side."

Special defence

At the start of the trial, Mr Sutherland lodged a special defence blaming prosecution witness Ms Scott for the murder.

He told police the 31-year-old woman and Mr Wilson disliked each other and hated "each other with a passion".

Prosecution witness Tracy Scott is accused of murdering Alan Wilson

Mr Sutherland denies murdering Mr Wilson either by strangling him with his hands and a curtain tie-back or some other means.

He also denies a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by dismembering Mr Wilson's body after murdering him and disposing of its parts in the back garden of his home.

He further denies assaulting Ms Scott six days after the alleged murder.

The trial continues.