evidence placed one of them at the scene of the crime.

And Michael Dean Eberly later accused Michael Dean Pitcher of committing the murder, a Supreme Court jury heard yesterday.

Eberly, 35, and Pitcher, 32, both of Victoria Row, Sandys, admit a break-in, but deny murdering 69-year-old Beatrice Simons in her Victoria Road, Sandys Parish home in December, 1997.

As the trial entered its fourth day yesterday, Det. Con. Calvin Smith told the nine-man, three-woman jury officers discovered Eberly's shoe prints at the scene of the crime.

And when confronted with the evidence, Eberly initially denied he was in the house and suggested Pitcher had worn the shoes.

He reportedly told Police: "If my shoe prints were at the scene, Michael put them (my shoes) on and left without me knowing. I swear to God I was not in that house that night.'' But Crown Counsel Peter Eccles pointed out the very different shoe sizes.

Eberly is a size eight-and-a-half. Pitcher is a size ten-and-a-half.

Earlier, Det. Con. Jason Smith told the jury of various Police interviews with Eberly and Pitcher between December 2 and 23.

According to the documents, Pitcher initially claimed he arrived at Eberly's bedroom -- which was behind his family's main house -- between 7.30 and 7.45 p.m. on the night of the murder.

The two men then spent the night drinking vodka and iced tea, and watching an American football game on TV.

Both men also claimed they fell asleep sometime around 1 a.m. when the game was in the third quarter.

And they said Pitcher stayed in the room all night and denied going to Mrs.

Simons' house at any time.

Pitcher also told Police he left Eberly's room shortly after 6 a.m. then went to his brother's tent before heading to work about 7 a.m.

But he admitted he had visited Mrs. Simons two weeks before her murder to sell her fish.

In a December 13 interview Pitcher described the murder as "tragic'' but said he knew nothing about the incident.

Two denied burglary He also reportedly told Police: "I'm tired of my name being called. If I know of anything or hear of anything, I will let you guys know.'' But Det. Con. Calvin Smith said officers on patrol on December 23 came across Eberly on a Sandys Parish road around 6.30 a.m.

According to Det. Con. Smith, Eberly voluntarily entered the car with the three officers and told them: "I need to speak to you guys about what's going on. I can't take it anymore.'' Officers then drove Eberly to the St. George's Police station where he gave a statement to Police.

Det. Con. Smith said Eberly was "nervous and fidgety'' at the beginning of the interview, but still denied any knowledge of the murder or robbery.

Four days later, when Police formally charged Eberly with murder and burglary on December 27, he reportedly told them: "I did not murder Mrs. Simons, Michael Pitcher did...yes, I did break and enter her house.'' And when Pitcher was charged with the same offences he reportedly replied: "I did not murder anybody...yes, I broke into the house.'' At the beginning of yesterday's trial Eberly's mother, Sandra Eberly, fought back tears as she testified briefly about washing her son's clothing roughly ten days after the murder.

Although she spoke with Police officials around the same time, she did not mention washing Eberly's clothing until a December 31 statement.

The trial continues on Monday. Chief Justice Austin Ward is presiding. Mark Pettingill represents Eberly. Pitcher is represented by Saul Froomkin.

Michael Dean Eberly