"HOLY s---," was the reaction of a Crown witness when a man accused of a double murder revealed to him what he had done, a Supreme Court trial has heard.
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Matthew James Coventry, 38, said to jurors yesterday that Marco Daniel Rusterholz told him he had killed Angela Maree Hallam and "the young fella", meaning her new boyfriend.
Later, during cross-examination, Mr Coventry added, "There's only one murderer in this courtroom and it's not me."
The second week of the Launceston trial of Rocherlea man Mr Rusterholz, 51, ended yesterday.
He has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Ms Hallam, 31, and Joshua Eric Newman, 21, a new couple whose burnt remains were found in a unit fire in Pioneer Parade, Ravenswood, on August 15, 2012.
Mr Coventry gave evidence on Thursday that he and Ms Hallam stole drugs that they were tasked to distribute on behalf of Mr Rusterholz, but had decided they wanted to "take their cut" and leave the operation before Ms Hallam's death.
Yesterday, during evidence-in-chief questioning from Crown prosecutor John Ransom, Mr Coventry said that Mr Rusterholz "contorted his own brain" with illicit drugs and told everyone what he had done.
Mr Coventry said that when Mr Rusterholz told him, "I wonder what she looks like now", he believed this reference was to Ms Hallam.
Under cross-examination from defence counsel Evan Hughes, Mr Coventry denied killing Ms Hallam and Mr Newman.
Mr Hughes also asked about his criminal history, including being an accessory after the fact to murder, and if he was involved with the Finks and Rebels motorcycle clubs.
Mr Coventry confirmed his extensive criminal record, including having used a murdered man's body as traction in an unsuccessful attempt to dislodge a bogged getaway truck in Latrobe in January 2001, but denied having belonged to any bikie gang.