BEN Blakeley lied to the police about his ex-girlfriend's whereabouts because he feared no one would believe him, a jury has heard.
This morning the 22-year-old's defence barrister Richard Benson QC finished delivering his closing speech to the jury in Oxford Crown Court.
Ben Blakeley, formerly of Christchurch Road, Reading, admits manslaughter and perverting the course of justice, but denies murdering Jayden Parkinson on December 3 last year.
During three police interviews made in the days after the 17-year-old went missing the defendant repeatedly denies knowing what had happened to her.
Mr Benson told the jury: "Of course he (lied), he's not a sophisticated lad, he brought himself up, he's a street kid.
"And his knee jerk reaction when confronted with police officers is to lie to them.
"You have seen Ben Blakeley at his worst - swearing at the police officers, challenging them.
"He did not believe or think that anybody would believe his account of what happened.
"He was alone with her. He is the only person alive who knows the whole story.
"And who is going to believe that when they have heard from his previous girlfriends and heard about his violence."
Ben's brother Jake Blakeley, 17, of Venners Water, Didcot, admits perverting the course of justice but denies preventing a lawful burial.
The trial continues.
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