The third defendant in the Jordan Watson murder trial said he did not dispose of the T-shirt he wore on the night the schoolboy died.

The denial came as Daniel Johnston, 20, was being questioned by prosecuting QC Simon Medland at Carlisle Crown Court. 

Johnston admitted seeing Thomson in the city's Upperby Cemetery on the night Jordan died, along with a "smaller person". 

But he insisted that he had not recognised that smaller person as Jordan Watson. 

Johnston, 20, was giving evidence as the trial went into its twelfth day at Carlisle Crown Court. 

All three defendants on trial - Johnston, Brahnn Finley, 19 and George Thomson, 19 - deny murder.

Mr Medland said to Johnston: "You knew fine well it was him (Jordan)."

"No, I didn't," said Johnston. 

Mr Medland said: "Here's the reason you were in the Cemetery that night: because you were the one who was going to make sure if was Jordan. 

"You were the one he knew and who would not have frightened him off. Your part in this was to take Jordan down to where he was murdered." 

"No - that's not right," said Johnston. 

"Because he was comfortable in your company," continued Mr Medland. 

"No," said the defendant.

Earlier, as he began his cross-examination of Johnston, Mr Medland asked him about a comment which a passing dog walker heard as the defendant and Finley were clambering over the wall of Upperby Cemetery that night.

The man heard somebody say:"I'm soaked." 

Mr Medland asked: "With what were you soaked?" 

Johnston replied: "I didn't say anything like that."

Mr Medland said it had been a mild, dry night in June and that the comment had been a reference by one of the defendants to being soaked in blood. 

He then asked Johnston about the T-shirt he wore that night, which police had never been able to find.

Johnston said he had taken it to a relative's house later but it had gone missing. 

"I didn't get rid of it," said Johnston. 

The court heard also that the bike Johnston was using that night had also gone missing. 

Mr Medland suggested that the handlebars would have had a "lot of blood" in them. 

"I wasn't there when it happened," commented Johnston.

Fourteen-year-old Jordan's body was found in Upperby Cemetery on the morning of June 16 last year.

He had suffered multiple wounds to his head and neck, inflicted by a sharp bladed weapon or weapons.

In evidence today, Johnston was earlier asked about his visit to the cemetery late on June 15, the night Jordan died.

He said that he wanted to go there to check on his father's grave because he had not seen it for a few months.

As he and Finley were leaving, he said, he noticed two figures in hoody tops walking towards them.

The larger of the two was George Thomson, he said. Johnston said he asked Thomson why he was there, prompting him to gesture towards the smaller person.

Thomson told him he was there to meet the smaller person, he said.

Johnston recalled that he heard Finley, behind him, punch Jordan after swearing at him. 

He saw the smaller person  stumble backwards.

Then as he and Finley were walking away, he had looked back.

He said: "When I looked back, I heard (someone say) 'what are you doing?' and George pushed him to the floor."

He said Thomson was leaning over the smaller person, with his arm raised.

He said he had then said to Finley "It's bad crack," as the walked away, leaving the cemetery.

As they were passing some bollards in Manor Road, he said, they heard a loud scream.

He said: "I don't know which direction it came from. I never thought much of it."

Johnston's QC Gordon Cole asked him: "Did you have anything to do with the murder of Jordan Watson?"

The defendant replied: "No - I never."

Thomson, of Upperby Road, Upperby, has said he was at home all night when Jordan was killed on June 15; while Finley, of Furze Street off London Road, said he saw Thomson scuffling with Jordan in the graveyard.

He and Johnston had left at that point, he told the court.

Finley told the jury that Thomson later admitted to cutting the schoolboy's throat - something Thomson says never happened.

The jury is expected to retire at some point this week to consider verdicts on the three defendants.

The trial continues.