Defendant in Nicola Payne trial accuses her brother of lying

A defendant alleged to have murdered a young mother in 1991 has accused the victim's brother of lying to jurors.

Giving evidence in his defence, Nigel Barwell said he and his co-defendant Thomas O'Reilly, had "every sympathy" for the family of Nicola Payne, but played no part in her disappearance.

Mr Barwell and Mr O'Reilly, both 51 and from Coventry, deny abducting Miss Payne as she walked across waste ground in the city on Saturday 14 December 1991.

The prosecution allege that Nigel Barwell and Thomas O'Reilly acted together to murder the 18-year-old mother-of-one and then disposed of her body, which has never been found.

Under cross-examination from prosecutor Andrew Smith QC at Birmingham Crown Court, Mr Barwell insisted her had never met Nicola Payne, or her brother, Scott, and rejected claims he was attracted to Miss Payne when it's claimed he saw her in a pub.

Nigel Barwell told the court:

The prosecution put it to Mr Barwell that he had spoken to Scott Payne, who gave evidence last month, at a pub in 1991.

Mr Barwell replied that it did not happen.

Both Nigel Barwell and Thomas O'Reilly deny the charges against them.

The trial continues.