A MAN accused of murder has denied any involvement in the killing but admitted that he took part in disposing of the body.

Victim John Harvey's burning body was discovered near the Killington Lake service area on the M6 in Cumbria last year.

The 59-year-old retired market trader had been shot in the back of the head.

Theodosi Petri, 21, told Preston Crown Court that his two co-defendants his 52-year-old father Savvas Petri and Terence Cook also played a part in dumping the body.

He told the jury that he had expected to travel north with his dad on business on that particular day in April last year. But during the journey, he said his father was edgy and very jumpy and went on to say he had a body in the boot of the car.

"He was near enough in tears, shaking and saying he had been threatened that if he didn't get rid of it, they would do harm."

Theodosi Petri said his dad told him it was Mr Harvey's body. His father was driving the BMW and they stopped in Cumbria.

The defendant told the court, "We got the body out of the boot and pushed it over a wall. The three of us were involved in taking it out and putting it over the wall.

"My dad poured petrol on it and lit it."

Petri admitted having lied to the police by not telling them, but said it had been done out of fear. He said he was not prepared to name the people who had threatened his father, out of fear.

"They are dangerous people," he said.

"I knew who did it. I knew what happened, but I could not say because there would be harm to me or my family. I was scared, I was more than scared."

He added: "I thought I would end up the same as John. I had no involvement in the murder of John Harvey and I know neither me or my father had any involvement."

The Petris, from Potter Bar, and Cook, 54, of Landemans, Westhoughton, deny murder.

The prosecution has alleged that Mr Harvey had been pressing Petri senior to repay £4,000.

Petri senior strenuously denied that he murdered Mr Harvey, and told the jury he did not know who might have been responsible.

"I had not known something nasty might happen to him," he said.

During cross-examination, he admitted lying to the police by not telling officers he had been to the North on business. "We were frightened. That was the pure reason why we lied.

"All I know is that I didn't kill him," he said.

The trial is continuing.