THE man accused of using a baseball bat to bludgeon his uncle to death told lies to police because he felt the net was tightening around him, a court has heard.

At Newcastle Crown Court, Simon Tannahill has been accused of telling lies and "fairy stories" to the jury.

Barrister Toby Hedworth told him: "George was dead, and you, being the person who had killed George Button, thought the net was tightening around you. Suddenly it had all gone wrong for you.

"Suddenly, in the view of the police, it was not a road traffic accident which killed your uncle, and suddenly you were going to have to try to explain away this killing."

Mr Tannahill denies murdering 53-year-old Mr Button.

The prosecution said Mr Button was murdered by Mr Tannahill, his wife's nephew, between 7.10pm and 7.27pm on March 3.

It is alleged that Mr Tannahill, 20, was besotted with Christina Button, 32, and the pair plotted the murder. The three lived in the same house in St Mary's Drive, West Rainton, County Durham.

The court heard Mrs Button was set to get nearly £500,000 from life assurance policies.

Mr Hedworth said: "You claimed to be at the filling station and at your sister's at the time of your uncle's death.

"But you know there was ample time between those two occurrences for you to go and attack your uncle. You did it, and you did it for your aunty's benefit."

Mr Tannahill replied: "I would never dream of attacking George. He was kind to me and had provided me with an extremely comfortable roof over my head.

"I got on brilliantly with him. I loved him."

Mr Tannahill and Mrs Button both deny murder.