A POLICEMAN called to an alleged murder scene, yesterday denied contaminating the clothing of a man accused of killing his next-door neighbour.

PC Lee Morgan told a jury at Teesside Crown Court he did not pick up a pair of jeans at Christopher Hoyland's home following the death of electrician George Evans.

DNA evidence showed traces of the dead man's blood on the back pockets of trousers recovered from Mr Hoyland's Middlesbrough home following his arrest.

The 42-year-old is accused of stabbing his neighbour with a knife after becoming angry over noise from DIY work Mr Evans was doing on his property. He denies murdering the 48-year-old on November 19, last year.

PC Morgan attended Mr Evans' home in St Barnabas Road, Middlesbrough, after reports of a disturbance. He found the electrician in a pool of the blood in the dining room of his home.

Under cross-examination by Mr Hoyland's barrister, Aidan Marron, the policeman denied he had touched Mr Evan's body.

He also denied suggestions by Mr Marron that he had picked up a pair of jeans lying on an ironing board and asked the defendant if had been wearing them.

When asked if he had touched the deceased with an ungloved hand, the officer replied: "Absolutely not."

The court heard that some time later the defendant told another police officer that he had been in the Yellow Rose pub, near his home, earlier in the day.

A barmaid later told police Mr Hoyland had not visited the pub that day.

The trial continues.