You're a dishonest, despicable, self-serving liar and that's how the jury should view you

Donald Findlay QC, speaking to witness Martin Gould

Mr Gould denied the accusation and retorted "I was there, I know what happened".

Mr Findlay said Mr Dag's companion on the night, Erkan Ayyildiz, had told the court Mr Gould was standing just a yard away from Mr Burrell when the stabbing took place.

Mr Gould replied: "I would say he's mixed up in his distances."

Mr Findlay accused Mr Gould of being prepared to "drop Scott Burrell in it right up to his neck".

"When it suits you, you are quite prepared to tell the truth when you say somebody else is doing something, but you are a deal less prepared to tell the truth when it comes to admitting your own responsibility," said Mr Findlay.

'Bloodstained knife'

He added: "You're a dishonest, despicable, self-serving liar and that's how the jury should view you, isn't it?"

Mr Gould replied "no".

He insisted that he and Mr Burrell had chased two men through the park from a footbridge, but he lost sight of Mr Burrell, who was running ahead of him.

Firsat Dag: Asylum seeker

Mr Gould added he could see the glint of a bloodstained knife in Mr Burrell's hand as they left the scene.

Mr Burrell, 26, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Dag in Sighthill Park in the early hours of 5 August this year in what is alleged to be a racially aggravated attack.

He is also accused of assaulting German tourist Stephan Herold in Albion Street, Glasgow, on the same day and breaching the peace on Strathclyde's University campus, also on 5 August.

Mr Burrell is also charged, together with 29-year-old Graham Mills, of Petershill Court, Glasgow, of carrying out a racially aggravated attack on Barzan Amini at Petershill Court on 13 March this year.

Both men, standing trial at the High Court in Glasgow, deny the charges.

Mr Burrell has lodged a special defence of incrimination blaming Mr Gould, of Gartferry Road, Balornock, Glasgow, for the murder of Mr Dag.

The trial, before Lord Kingarth, continues.