An accused killer denied ever meeting his alleged victim during a police interview, a court heard on Wednesday.
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Mark Rodney Jones, of West Launceston, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Bradley Breward on New Year's Day in 2017.
A police interview conducted with Mr Jones on January 20, 2017, was played on the third day of the Launceston Supreme Court trial.
Mr Jones told police he'd been searching for Mr Breward in relation to his stolen Nissan Patrol.
"I went everywhere searching for him ... I didn't find shit," he said to police.
TRIAL
But the court previously heard Mr Jones and his employee Ricky Izard went to a Newnham unit where Mr Breward was staying.
It was alleged the two men tied Mr Breward's hands and ankles with tape and began torturing him while questioning him about the stolen ute.
Mr Breward was punched, kicked, waterboarded and a plastic bag was placed over his head to deprive him of oxygen, the court heard.
The 22-year-old did not give Mr Jones information about the car, despite being tortured over it.
Mr Breward allegedly said he was dying, but the plastic bag was again put over his head for another 40 seconds.
The court heard Mr Breward turned blue, so Mr Jones attempted to give him CPR.
Mr Jones and Mr Izard put Mr Breward's body in a beanbag, wrapped it in tarpaulin and put it on the tray of a ute, the court heard.
It was alleged Mr Jones and Mr Izard bought a blow-up raft from Kmart and used it to dump Mr Breward's body at Lake Eugenana.
The trial continues.