A MAN accused of kidnapping and murdering his former partner has told jurors ‘I would never do anything to hurt her’.
Natalie Harker’s bruised and naked body was discovered in a tent belonging to her ex-boyfriend hours after she went missing.
Andrew Pearson maintains that he pulled the 30-year-old out a stream after she slipped and gave her CPR before passing out himself.
Teesside Crown Court heard how Pearson had said up camp in woodland near to Miss Harker’s home in an attempt to ambush her as she cycled to work on October 9 last year.
Pearson denies murdering his former partner and told jurors that they had mutual sexual intercourse before she died.
He told the court how he bumped into Miss Harker as she cycled to work at 4.30am.
The 45-year-old said they walked through a field looking for wildlife before arriving at his tent in woodland near the Walkerville Industrial Estate, Colburn.
The defendant said the pair started having sex in the wood but stopped midway through. He added: “We just started giggling because it was cold and uncomfortable.”
The accused told the court Miss Harker fell down a bank and into a stream, pulling him with her. He said he managed to drag her body back to his tent where he undressed her in an attempt to warm her up.
Jurors heard he then fell asleep before waking several hours later to discover Miss Harker dead.
Under cross examination from Alistair MacDonald QC, the defendant was asked about a text he sent to a friend before spending 42 minutes talking to him on Facetime.
The message said: “Goodbye. I’ve killed Natalie – I'm handing myself in.”
Mr MacDonald asked what he meant when he sent to message. "Were you confessing to your friend?"
He replied: "No I was not. I would never do anything to hurt Natalie."
The defendant was asked why he hadn't called Miss Harker's family instead of his friend. Mr MacDonald asked: “Did it not cross your mind for one second that Natalie’s family would, at that stage, be absolutely frantic and distressed?
“It’s someone worst nightmare that someone’s daughter or sister goes missing."
Pearson didn't answer the question.
The trial of Pearson, of Chestnut Court, Catterick Garrison, resumes on Monday morning.
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