Murder accused 'guilty of lying'

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The man accused of murdering pizza restaurant boss Eleni Pachou has admitted he was guilty of lying to police and his family.

But Juan Crispin, 37, insisted he had not murdered Ms Pachou.

Mr Crispin was giving evidence for a second day in the witness box at the High Court in Glasgow.

He denies murdering and robbing Ms Pachou, 25, at Di Maggio's restaurant in Ruthven Lane, Glasgow on 29 or 30 May last year.

Mr Crispin was asked under cross-examination by prosecutor Brian McConnachie QC: "Not only are you a liar, but your entire life is a lie, isn't it?"

Spanish speaking Mr Crispin, who has been using an interpreter during the trial, replied: "No."

But he conceded he had lied to his family about his affair with Di Maggio's cleaner Marion Hinshelwood, 44, who has admitted the culpable homicide of Ms Pachou on the basis she bought the alleged murder weapon.

Mr Crispin added: "I'm not happy about it. I don't like lying to them."

I'm guilty of lying to my family and the police, but I didn't kill anyone Juan CrispinMurder accused

He also admitted lying to the police during his initial statement and later during a taped interview.

When asked why he had done that, he replied: "Because I was scared they would think I was involved in Eleni's death because I was there that night."

Mr McConnachie told Mr Crispin that "his position changed like the wind," and he replied: "No."

He said in evidence that he went to Hinshelwood's flat in Marchmont Terrace on the evening of 29 May, after leaving Eleni alive in the restaurant, and stayed there until about 0030 BST.

He said Hinshelwood was jealous and accused him of sleeping with Ms Pachou, and so he had broken up with her.

Later Mr Crispin was asked why he phoned Hinshelwood on her mobile at 0824 BST on 30 May last year, just minutes after she found Ms Pachou's body in Di Maggio's restaurant.

He claimed he was replying to an earlier phone call from Hinshelwood at 0800 BST when she begged him to take her back.

The court has already heard a 999 call made by a distraught Hinshelwood after finding Ms Pachou's body.

Ms Pachou was a trainee manager at the restaurant

Mr McConnachie then put it to Crispin: "You phoned her to find out what was happening at Di Maggio's because there was a dead body there.

"You knew there was a dead body there because you killed her".

Mr Crispin replied: "No I didn't kill Eleni. I want Marion to come here and give an explanation to me, you and Eleni's family."

"I'm guilty of lying to my family and the police, but I didn't kill anyone."

Earlier Mr Crispin told defence QC Ian Duguid that he had been set up by Marion Hinshelwood.

Mr Duguid asked him: "When you were explaining to the police you had been set up did you have someone in mind?" and Mr Crispin replied: "Marion."

Mr Crispin denies, while acting along with Hinshelwood, repeatedly striking Ms Pachou on the head and body with a knife or similar instrument, opening a safe and robbing her of £1,320.25, attempting to open another safe and murdering her.