A HAMPSHIRE man accused of plotting to murder Pennie Davis repeatedly denied any involvement in her death, when questioned by detectives.

Winchester Crown Court heard today that Ben Carr had been arrested three days after Pennie was stabbed to death near Beaulieu on September 2.

The prosecution alleges Carr paid Justin Robertson £1,500 to murder her.

Carr, the court was told, lived with Pennie when she was in a relationship with Ben Carr's father.

The jury heard the interviews between Carr and detectives that started after his arrest on Friday September 5.

Carr told them: "I don't know nothing about the murder. I heard about it on Facebook. I was shocked, shocked.

"No matter what me and that woman have gone through no-one deserves to be killed.

"I have not had contact with that woman in years. I saw her in Sainsbury's where she worked. She was stacking shelves and I walked past her. I recognised her and she recognised me."

The officers told Carr about the sexual allegations made by Pennie against Carr in 2006 when he was around 14 years old.

Carr told officers that he did not have a good relationship with her. One day he returned home to find her having sex with another man.

Pennie later told Carr's father that she had been raped, but Carr did not support her story, the jury heard.

"That is when mine and Pennie's relationship started breaking down. I resented her for that and she thought I did not back her up."

On another occasion Pennie attacked Carr, scratching his chest, because he could not cope with babysitting her children when she and Carr's father were out at the pub.

He said he bore her no ill-will. They had seen each other more recently when Carr saw her stacking shelves in Sainsbury's.

More recently Carr had heard that Pennie was emailing Carr's father partner who he was due to marry, making allegations against Carr.

Asked why Pennie would have done that, Carr said: "I don't know. Maybe she doesn't want dad to marry her. Maybe Pennie still has feelings for him. I have learned a lesson, I don't get involved in my dad's life."

Carr, 22, of Edward Avenue, Shirley, Southampton, denies conspiracy to kill.

Justin Robertson, 36, of no fixed abode, denies murder and conspiracy to kill.

Samantha Maclean, 28, of Beech Avenue, Hythe, denies conspiracy to kill.

Proceeding