THE man accused of murdering Saints steward Paula Poolton told police he why he was seen running into work on the night she disappeared.

In his first police interview after being arrested on suspicion of her murder Roger Kearney said he had got to work at 10.20pm on October 17, 2008.

But he said he had to go back to his car after signing in at the Royal Mail depot in Eastleigh because he had left his glasses in the car.

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Winchester Crown Court heard that Kearney needed his glasses to fill in his tachograph.

In his interview, which was read out to the court, Kearney said: "I went out through the office, got to the car, got the keys, got my glasses and locked the car up.

"Just as I was about to walk up through the office I noticed there was an artic [articulated lorry] going through the gates. Because it was about half the distance I ran through that one and that's when I fell over."

He added that he cut his finger and a couple of guys saw him and joked about it later.

During the interview on October 30, Kearney chose not to have a solicitor present.

It is the prosecution's case that Kearney ran into work avoiding the staff entrance which requires a swipe card because he was late.

They say he was running late from arriving at 10.33 and not 10.20pm because he had killed Paula Poolton before arriving at work.

Kearney, 57, of Painswick Close, Sarisbury Green denies the murder of 40-year-old Paula, who was found stabbed to death in the boot of her car in Duncan Road, Park Gate.

Proceeding.