THE man accused of murdering drama student Amanda Duffy told

detectives he kissed and cuddled her the night she died, a court heard

yesterday.

However, Francis Auld, 20, denied that he was her killer and said

19-year-old Amanda had gone off with another man called Mark.

At the High Court in Glasgow, the jury listened to a lengthy tape

interview between detectives and Mr Auld.

He told them he and Amanda had been to the same school and that night

they had met by chance and ended up kissing and cuddling on a bench.

A dark-haired stranger had appeared on the scene, and shouted on

Amanda and Auld said he felt it better to leave.

Mr Auld, of Douglas Crescent, Eddlewood, Hamilton, denies murdering

Amanda, of Brackenhill Drive, Hamilton, on May 30 last.

It is alleged he assaulted the girl on waste ground at the town's

Miller Street car park, punched and kicked her, stamped on her face and

neck, removed parts of her clothing, forced pieces of wood into parts of

her body, and murdered her.

Detective Sergeant John Robertson, 45, told Mr John Morris,

prosecuting, that Mr Auld was detained on June 5 and taken to Hamilton

police office where his interview was taped.

During the long tape recording played to the jury, Mr Auld said he had

been out with a friend and his brother, gone to the pictures and had

about eight pints in a local bar.

He said later he was in the precinct in Quarry Street when he saw

Amanda and they were both a bit drunk and ended up sitting kissing on a

bench.

Then they walked up the precinct before there was shouting and Amanda

turned round and said: ''It's OK. It's Mark.'' She walked slowly towards

this man.

Detective Sergeant Robertson said that after the interview, Mr Auld

had been charged with murdering Amanda, replying: ''I didnae dae any of

that. I wisnae there that night in that car park.''

The trial before Lord Sutherland continues.