Murder accused is profound liar - QC

An alleged murderer accused of strangling two men as his accomplice raided their pockets is a "simple and profound" liar, a jury has been told.

Mr Roger Smith QC, prosecuting at Wolverhampton Crown Court, said Gabriel Bhengu had attempted to construct a web of deceit so police would not trace him to the murders of Telford man Neil Williams and Sedgley father-of-five Andrew Owen. Bhengu, aged 27, was yesterday giving evidence for the third consecutive day.

He and Jabu Mbowane, aged 26, both of Court Road, Newbridge, deny both murders.

Kashia Allen, 22, denies murdering Mr Owen.

Bhengu and Allen have also pleaded not guilty to five charges of robbery while Mbowane denies four robbery counts.Mr Smith said the defendant initially told police he had been at Allen's house on the night Mr Williams was killed.

He claimed he had not gone to Telford on that day, April 5 last year, the court heard. Mr Smith put it to Bhengu that his account had been "a simple and profound lie".

Bhengu also told officers he, Mbowane and Allen had travelled in Allen's car to a house in Telford for a party the next day, April 6.

They stayed at the house and Mbowane bought a mobile phone from an unknown man the following morning.

The prosecution alleges the trio created the story about the party to explain how Mr Williams' mobile phone came into Allen's possession.

When Mr Smith asked Bhengu why he had lied, he said he "got scared" when he heard Mr Williams had died.

The trial continues.