MURDER accused George Thomson told one of his alleged accomplices: “I slit his throat”, the Jordan Watson trial heard.

Brahnn Finley, 19, who is also accused of murder, said Thomson made the claim – and then laughed – during a conversation after a fight he had in a graveyard.

Finley said he did not recognise the other person involved in the “scuffle” at the time – but now knew it was Jordan, 14.

The body of Jordan was found in Upperby Cemetery, on Manor Road, Carlisle, on June 16.

Finley, Thomson, 19, and Daniel Johnston, 20, all of Carlisle, are on trial at the city’s crown court accused of killing the teenager.

Finley took to the witness box on day 11 to give his account.

He said Johnston was his “best mate” and the two had gone to Thomson’s house on June 15 at about 8pm.

Finley told the jury they had been in Thomson’s bedroom, listening to music and “having a crack”. He said he had cut himself on a Ghurka knife while there.

The jury was told Finley and Johnston left at about 10.30pm. Finley said Johnston asked if they could quickly go and see his dad’s grave at Upperby Cemetery.

Finley said he became aware of somebody else being in the cemetery, adding he did not recognise him but now knew it was Jordan.

He told the jury there had been “a little altercation” between him and Jordan.

“He was coming towards us in a way I thought was shifty,” he told the jury. “He said something and then I hit him.

“He took two steps but he didn’t fall and hit the ground.”

Finley said Jordan continued walking afterwards.

He told the jury Thomson then appeared in the graveyard.

Finley was asked if he saw anything happen between Thomson and Jordan.

He said: “They started scuffling. Jordan threw a punch at George.

“George was on the ground on top of him.”

He said he did not intervene, adding: “It was a cemetery late at night. It was nothing to do with me so I left them to it.”

Later, Finley said, he spoke to Thomson on the phone.

“I asked him what it was all about, why he was fighting,” said Finley. “He told us he’d had a fight with him and thought he’d killed him.”

Finley said he did not believe him.

He told the court that in another conversation he asked Thomson “what he was on about”.

Finley told the court: “He said: I slit his throat. I said: Are you being serious and he laughed.”

Ben Myers QC, representing Thomson, cross-examined Finley.

He suggested the things Finley had said had been said to protect himself.

Mr Myers also said Jordan had not done much for Finley to hit him.

Finley replied: “He’d said something – what do you think you’re doing? It was the way he came across.”

Mr Myers asked: “Why did you walk off from these two fighting?”

Finley said: “It had nothing to do with me.”

Thomson, of Upperby Road, Upperby; Finley, of Furze Street, off London Road; and Johnston, of Petteril Bank Road, Harraby, all deny murder.

The trial continues.