A 17-YEAR-OLD who twice helped to bury the body of Jayden Parkinson has been accused of not telling the truth about what happened.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, continued giving evidence in Oxford Crown Court this morning and was cross examined by prosecutor Richard Latham QC.

He told the jury yesterday he was lied to by Ben Blakeley and believed they were burying weapons near Upton and later a dead dog in a cemetery next to All Saints Church in Didcot.

The teenager admits perverting the course of justice but denies preventing a lawful burial.

Mr Latham asked the witness questions about December 3, the day Jayden died, when he brought Blakeley clothes after the 22-year-old had killed her.

The barrister pointed out there was an hour and a half, from 8.15pm to 9.45pm, which he could not account for.

He told the youth: "You are simply not telling the truth about what was going on."

The witness said: "I am telling the truth."

Mr Latham said: "But it doesn't fit."

The teenager replied: "Well that is what happened."

He was also questioned about December 5, when it is alleged that during the night he helped bury Jayden for the first time in a ditch near Upton.

Mr Latham said: "You thought (Blakeley) had got rid of some weapons in the bottom of a ditch.
"Did you say to him, why did we spend two hours digging a hole to bury a hammer and a knife?"

The defendant said: "No I didn't and looking back I wish I had.

"Back then I was just a stupid kid. I was dumb, I wasn't the smartest kid at the time."

Blakeley admits manslaughter and perverting the course of justice but denies murder.

The trial continues.

Our top stories