A man accused of murdering a drug dealer "lied his heart out" to police but only witnessed the victim being strangled and did not kill her, a Perth court has heard.
Allan Bradley McIntosh, 38, is on trial in the West Australian Supreme Court, accused of murdering 46-year-old Diana Lesley Matthews, who was found in a reservoir at Rockingham Regional Memorial Park in April 2011.
Prosecutor Alan Troy alleged McIntosh strangled Ms Matthews with wire and dumped her body with the help of Rebecca Anne Hall, who has already been sentenced for murder.
But the defence team claims McIntosh was merely a witness to the crime and was only guilty of not trying to help Ms Matthews.
In her opening address on Tuesday, defence lawyer Linda Black said many people lied to police but McIntosh had the strongest reason to lie because he was in the car when Hall strangled the victim after an argument.
"Mr McIntosh lied his heart out," Ms Black told the jury.
"He kept lying and lying and lying until he could lie no more, but he wasn't the only one."
The court heard McIntosh watched Hall grab Ms Matthews and put pressure around her neck.
"She did survive the strangulation for at least three hours," Ms Black said.
She told the jury to pay close attention to the "disturbing" footage that would show how the victim was positioned in the water and the medical evidence that would explain how she died.
Ms Black said the court would also hear a recording of a conversation between Hall and McIntosh in which he admitted knowing about the crime.
"If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have done it either," he allegedly said.
"All I'm saying is you did society a favour."
Ms Black said while McIntosh had a lot to be ashamed about, murder was not one of them.
The trial continues.
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