A WITNESS in a murder trial has denied murdering a woman and stabbing her 86-year-old partner.

Ross Arthurs, 28, was asked if he had murdered Isabelle Sanders at her home in Crookston, Glasgow and said: "Absolutely not."

Murder accused Paul McManus has lodged special defences of incrimination, naming Mr Arthurs and Christopher O'Reilly.

Mr Arthurs was giving evidence for a second day at the High Court in Glasgow at the trial of 19-year-old McManus, who denies murdering Miss Sanders and attempting to murder her partner Norman Busby on April 9.

Mr Jackson put it to Mr Arthurs that he, Mr O'Reilly and McManus were all at Ms Sanders' home on April 9.

The QC said: "The three of you ended up in the house?"

Mr Arthurs replied: "No, he murdered that woman. We weren't there. What he put that family through was disgusting. As far as I'm aware Paul was in the house on his own. I don't know if O"Reilly was there,"

Mr Arthurs was accused of making up the story about an alleged confession by McManus and replied: "I'm not a novelist. You don't just make up things like that."

The trial continues.