Accused murderer said man pushed knife into victim's chest, twisted

The man was a teenager when William Chaplin was allegedly killed in a paddock off Main Street Gerogery.

Jurors in a Supreme Court trial were played two police interviews in court on Thursday from September 5 and 6, 2019.

The man, who can't be named, gave multiple accounts of what occurred.

In the first interview, he said he was warned by the older man to take the blame, but he wasn't involved, and a gun was used.

He told Albury detectives Chris Wallace and Darryl Glynn in the second interview he wanted to come clean.

"Basically I'm just sorry for bulls---ting a fair bit yesterday," he said.

"I left a lot out."

He said an older man, who also can't be named, "ran a knife into William's chest".

"We did burn William's body," he said.

"And after that, I left."

He said there was talk about the older man "doing me next".

"It scared the s--- out of me and I never spoke about it again," he told police.

The man said he had been told by the older man to grab fishing line and go to a round yard used to break in horses.

The accused murderer said Mr Chaplin was there and said he dropped onto his back and put him in a headlock until he dropped.

He said the older man punched the knife into his chest and twisted, and he heard a crunch.

Police asked what Mr Chaplin, who was known as "Too Tall", said.

"Nothing," the man replied.

"He was dying."

He told the detectives he heard gargling and the older man had said "you had this coming".

"As I heard the crunch of the chest plate, I ran," the younger man said, and said the body was cremated

He told police "I've been scared ever since".

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He was asked if the older man made him kill Mr Chaplin, and the younger man said he didn't physically kill him.

The court heard details of how a skull, teeth, bones and other items were located amongst burnt items and charcoal.

The skull was later tested against a DNA sample in Queensland and linked to Mr Chaplin.

Two dams were searched at the property for a suspected murder weapon but no knives were found.

The court heard Mr Chaplin's last Facebook message to his mum was sent on January 22, 2010, his bank account last accessed on February 18 that year, he was last seen alive by his half brother on April 4, 2010.

His mother and ex-wife did not report him missing.

The court heard his mother believed he was in Queensland.

The prosecution has finished its case and the trial in the Supreme Court continues.

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