Ms Capp told police her daughter had lied

Ms Capp, 61, told Sheffield Crown Court what happened after Carr was arrested in August 2002 after the Soham murders.

She has denied threatening a witness in the consequent Old Bailey trial.

The jury has heard a police interview tape on which Ms Capp describes how she became angry with her neighbour Marion Westerman.

Crying claims

Ms Westerman told the court Ms Capp had allegedly threatened her life during an argument because she was going to be a prosecution witness in the Soham trial.

The jury heard how Ms Westerman made a police statement saying she had seen Carr and Ian Huntley looking into the boot of a red car outside Ms Capp's Grimsby house and Carr was crying.

On the police tape Ms Capp said: "The only argument is that she (Westerman) said that she (Carr) was crying at the car, that's all.

"I even asked her myself when I rang her.

"I said to her 'Maxine, was you crying when you took me to work when Ian came to pick you up on that Tuesday?' and she said 'What are you talking about. Crying? What do you mean.'"

Ordinary person

When asked about claims that she threatened to get people to harm Ms Westerman, Ms Capp replied: "What the hell do you think I am?

I said she wasn't up in Soham. She was down in Grimsby with me Shirley Capp

"I'm only an ordinary person going to work, doing my bloody thing.

"I don't go and bloody get people to do her over and things like that."

In court Ms Capp was asked by her barrister Gordon Stables whether police told her Maxine Carr was claiming to be in Soham with Ian Huntley.

She replied: "I said she wasn't up in Soham. She was down in Grimsby with me."

Ms Capp also told the court how she took refuge in Ms Westerman's home following her daughters arrest, after more than 20 reporters called at her house.

She said Ms Westerman tried to convince her to talk to reporters and brought her letters from them.

The court heard how the pair later argued on 13 May last year.