THE man blamed for killing Dunfermline drug dealer Duncan Banks by the person accused of his murder told a jury yesterday (Thursday) that he was not guilty of the crime.

Jamie Curtis, 44, has been named as the killer in a special defence of incrimination lodged at the High Court in Livingston by Steven Thomson.

Thomson, 29, a prisoner at Perth, denies murdering Duncan on September 28, 2015, and possessing heroin while on bail. 

Mr Curtis firmly rebutted any suggestion that he repeatedly bludgeoned Duncan on the head with a blunt instrument, shattering his skull and causing the brain injuries from which he died.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice asked Mr Curtis how Duncan Burns had been when he left him the day before his body was discovered and he replied: “He was fine. He was able-bodied.

Mr Prentice said: “Did you injure him in any way?” Mr Curtis answered: “No I didn’t.”

“Did you attack him?” “ No I didn’t.”

“Did you strike him on the head?” “No I didn’t.”

“Did you murder him?” Mr Curtis said: “No I didn’t.”

Former heroin user Mr Curtis, a radio production student at Fife college, confessed to “identity problems” and was said by two other witnesses in the case to be a cross-dresser.

He admitted that he had made the last voice call victim Duncan answered.

He also admitted that, based on information given to him by the detectives, he was probably the last person to see Duncan alive.

He said he had been buying heroin from Duncan for only a few weeks prior to his death.

Mr Curtis told how he phoned Duncan early on Sunday, September 27, 2015, and went to borrow money from a friend before going to Duncan’s flat in Skye Road, Dunfermline, at around 10am to buy three tenner deals of heroin.

He told the jury: “I banged on his door. Duncan came to the door. I think we just had a laugh – ‘How you doing, mate? – and that was it. 

“I think it was a doorstep thing. I’m not entirely sure I stepped into the house. I honestly can’t remember. I’m clear I didn’t go up the stairs.

“I had been up the stairs in his property on previous occasions but only a few steps up, literally only about three or four steps just to give him room because I’m quite large myself.

“I’ve never been in the flat itself.” 

He said Duncan always seemed to have a nervous disposition because of the risk involved in his illegal drug-dealing. 

He said: “Obviously, he wasn’t entirely happy about it. He always seemed a bit nervous and on edge.  

“I think he was that day as well. He seemed a little bit anxious at the time. I was in his company for no more than two or three minutes perhaps.”

When he was unable to contact Duncan by phone later that day he assumed he had been “busted” by police and sent a text saying as much to David Docherty, who he knew supplied Duncan with drugs.

The following day – the Monday when Duncan’s body was found in a pool of blood in his living room – he said he pawned his phone in Cash Generators to get money to buy more heroin. 

Because he hadn’t been able to get hold of Duncan he went to the dead man’s supplier, where he encountered Mr Docherty’s then partner Kayleigh Webster, who discovered the body.

He told the jury: “Kayleigh came out in a panic saying: ‘He’s dead, he’s dead!’ She looked upset. She had red eyes.

“My first thought was that it was David Docherty who had died because he’d been having problems with his leg. 

“Then David came round the corner and she said: “Duncan.”

Thomson’s defence counsel, Derek Ogg, highlighted the fact that the phone call Mr Curtis made to Duncan on the Sunday morning was the last voice message the dead man ever received.

Mr Ogg said: “You said to a number of people after they discovered the body that you were the last person to see Duncan Banks alive. How would you know you were the last person to see Duncan alive?”  

Mr Curtis replied: “Because the police had come to me on the Tuesday morning and the Tuesday afternoon they hinted towards the fact.”

The trial, before Lady Rae, continues.