Moira murder 'confession' denied

The body of Moira Jones was found in Queen's Park in May 2008

A convicted sex attacker has told the Moira Jones murder trial that he did not admit to killing the businesswoman.

Jason Mulheron said he was a violent man, a liar, and a danger to women. But he denied telling a former girlfriend that he had murdered Ms Jones.

The 37-year-old was giving evidence during the trial of Marek Harcar at the High Court in Glasgow.

The 33-year-old Slovakian denies the rape and murder of Ms Jones in Glasgow's Queen's Park last May.

Jason Mulheron told the court that on the night the 40-year-old businesswoman was killed he had been high on a cocktail of drink and drugs and had no alibi.

He said he had been attempting to get back together with his former girlfriend, Caroline Daly, and had repeatedly phoned and texted her.

You are at it Ms Daly and you are committing perjury right here in this court Paul McBride QC Defence counsel

The court was told that on 5 June 2008, he made a phone call to Ms Daly.

Mr Harcar's QC, Paul McBride, asked: "Did you say 'It was me. I done the murder of that lassie in the park'.

"Ms Daly said don't talk rubbish and you then said: 'It was me that stabbed her'. She then began to freak out."

Mr Mulheron denied saying that and stated he did not kill Moira Jones.

Mr McBride added: "Mr Mulheron, you are a sex offender of the vilest type and you are a serial liar.

"You have progressed over the years to murder, haven't you?"

He replied: "No. I deny it because I did not do it."

Mulheron later agreed with Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini QC, prosecuting, that he was a "revolting man".

The trial at the High Court in Glasgow is before Lord Bracadale

Ms Angiolini asked: "The court will not hear about your DNA on Moira Jones will it?"

Mulheron: "No, because I did not do it."

The court also heard from Ms Daly, 46, who said her former partner had told her he had "killed the girl in the park".

But, she claimed that Mr Mulheron had told her days later that what he said was not true.

Mr McBride said Ms Daly had not told police about the apparent retraction.

He said: "You are at it Ms Daly and you are committing perjury right here in this court."

The mum of three denied that she was.

Closing speeches

The court was also told that Ms Daly said to police: "I don't know if what he (Mulheron) said is true. He definitely has the bottle and I would not put it past him to stab somebody."

The jury has now heard all the evidence in the trial.

The defence and prosecution will deliver their closing speeches on Tuesday.

Judge, Lord Bracadale, said it was likely to be Wednesday before the jury was sent out to consider its verdict.

It is claimed that Mr Harcar forced Ms Jones across the park against her will before he repeatedly punched, kicked and stamped on her head and body.

He is then said to have repeatedly struck her on the ground, forcibly removed her clothes, compressed her neck, pinned her to the ground and raped her.

Mr Harcar is also alleged to have murdered the businesswoman, who is originally from Staffordshire, and stolen from her.

He is then accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by fleeing to the Czech Republic and Slovakia between 1 and 18 June last year.

Mr Harcar has lodged defences of incrimination and alibi, blaming three others for the murder of Ms Jones.

The trial, before Lord Bracadale, continues.