Murder accused claims he lied to protect friend

A Darwin teenager charged with double murder has agreed that he told lies about the deaths of two sex workers out of loyalty to his friend.

Ben William McLean and Phu Ngoc Trinh, both 19, have pleaded not guilty to killing the two women.

In police interviews played to the court, McLean admitted a role in the women's deaths.

Since taking the witness stand he has denied any involvement.

Under cross-examination this afternoon, the Crown prosecutor tried to discredit McLean by suggesting that he tied the women up and threw them into the river.

McLean said he told lies in his police interviews to buy time for his friend, Trinh.

The teenagers had agreed to tell their friends that McLean had a drug debt with the Hell's Angels.

McLean said that story was made up.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Mon, 07 Mar 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia
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Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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