Mohammed Reveshi, 50, denies helping dispose of the body of missing Blackpool teenager Charlene Downes while business partner Iyad Albattikhi, 30, stands accused of murder.

For Charlene trial archives see bottom of page

Charlene vanished in November 2003, aged 14. She never returned to her Buchanan Street home in central Blackpool and was never heard from again.

Reveshi took the witness stand at Preston Crown Court and told how he had nothing to do with her disappearance or death.

He said: "I believe we have a murderer still loose on the streets of Blackpool.

"I've never seen the person, never had anything to do with her. I don't know who she is. I don't know her family or friends.

"When the police were questioning people about her, my name never came up. They made my life absolutely impossible, going around telling everyone I knew that I am a murderer."

Reveshi also questioned police evidence which he claimed hinged on a statement provided by witness David Cassidy.

Mr Cassidy earlier told the jury Albattikhi's brother Tariq had confessed to him he knew what had happened to Charlene, that she had been strangled and her body disposed of.

Reveshi claimed Mr Cassidy told this to police following a long-running feud between the pair.

He said: "How can it come on the basis of somebody who seemed to be my very serious enemy for the police to do this to me."

Reveshi, of Hornby Road and Albattikhi, of Dickson Road, both deny the charges.

(Proceeding)

Charlene Downes trial archives
Kill stories are "fiction" jury is told
Murder trial: 'I am not lying about Charlene'
Charlene received chilling letter
Mum weeps over daughter's gruesome death
Charlene trial: "Why did you kill her?"
"Blood on the walls" Charlene murder trial told
Police tell Charlene trial: "It was no set-up"
Charlene jury told how accused 'confessed'
Charlene accused 'felt bit like serial killer'
Charlene suspect 'sobbed in car' claim police