I didn’t kill ex- lover in woodland, court told

A MAN charged with kidnapping his ex- girlfriend and killing her in Yorkshire woodland has denied her murder.

Andrew Lee Pearson is accused of lying in wait for Natalie Harker as she cycled to work as a cleaner from her home in Brough with St Giles, near Catterick Garrison, before ambushing her and taking her to a camouflaged tent.

He wept during a 999 call and told the operator his 30- year- old ex- partner had slipped as they walked in the dark and had fallen in a stream.

He then said he had dragged her into his tent to try and revive her, before passing out himself.

Pearson, 45, went the witness box at Teesside Crown Court yesterday to begin his defence.

His barrister John Elvidge QC asked him a series of questions – had he assaulted her, did he intend to cause her harm, had he intended to kill her, had he forced her into the woods with him early in morning on October 9 last year. To each, Pearson replied: “No.” The prosecution has alleged that during the period he said he had passed out, Pearson texted a friend in the US to say “Goodbye, I have killed Natalie, I’m going to hand myself in”.

The prosecution said Pearson, who was jobless but previously worked at Tesco, spent another 42 minutes on FaceTime calls with the friend.

Jurors have heard Ms Harker, who was a cleaner, was conscientious and would not have gone for a walk when she was supposed to be on her way to work.

Police found her naked body under a sleeping bag in the tent hours after she died.

Pearson, of Chestnut Court, denies murder.