A man accused of burning down his boss' shop after a row over money admitted he was trained as an electrical engineer.

But Neil Obrian Trott, 41, denied the skills he learnt in college would "equip" or "prepare" him in carrying out the alleged crime.

Trott told a Supreme Court jury yesterday: "I can't recall what I studied. It was in 1990 that I was in the field for that. And I haven't used it since. I work as a handy man. I do not use tools or anything like that."

Trott added: "I do not recall any courses in starting fires. Electrical engineering is basically dealing with motor engines, electrical transmissions (and) power lines."

Trott is on trial for allegedly stealing an antique roulette table from Auction De Mitra in Booth Memorial Hall, on Court Street, on June 30 last year. He is also accused of setting fire to the shop sometime between June 30 and the early morning hours of July 1.

He has pled not guilty to both burglary and arson — and gave evidence that he got drunk and passed out in Avocado Lodge park while the alleged crime was taking place.

Earlier in the trial, the jury heard that Trott was employed to do 'hustles' with auction shop owner Mitra Johnston on and off for two to three years.

On June 30 last year he arrived to work around 11.30 a.m. and claims to have helped co-worker Norris Simpson with three or four deliveries.

After the work day Mrs. Johnston went to Supermart, on Front Street, in Hamilton to get money to pay the two men, but Trott grew angry when she returned with less money than he expected — paying him a total of $35 rather than the agreed upon $50, he said.

Trott and Mrs. Johnston were involved in a "heated" argument, recalled Mr. Simpson, who said he heard Trott threaten to burn down their boss' shop.

Yesterday Crown counsel Nicole Smith, suggested that Trott was an educated man, one with both knowledge of the electrical trade and street smarts.

Ms Smith asked Trott whether he knew how to "duck trouble", considered himself a "fast talker" and knew how to cover his tracks. He denied all the allegations.

She also asked if he knew how to create a combustion without its cause being detected and whether Trott knew how to destroy evidence of how a fire started with his knowledge in electrical engineering.

He replied: "Electrical engineering doesn't have anything to do with combustion at all."

Fire investigator Lieutenant Josonne Smith told the jury the blaze began in a cabinet in an office on the ground floor of Auction De Mitra. Lt. Smith determined it was not an electrical fire and did not rule out foul play.

He said: "With the absence of any source of ignition and based on some of the other evidence seen, like the lock in the locked position and still attached to the (door) frame on the north window, air conditioner being pushed in, the lower north-east door being left in the open position, I concluded that this fire was suspicious."

The trial is due to continue on Tuesday before Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons — with both the prosecution and the defence summing up the case.