A COURT was played a secret recording of a man accused of murdering a Hampshire grandmother allegedly trying to fix himself an alibi.

The secret recording was made in July 2010 when Matthew Hamlen was being held by police for the killing.

Winchester Crown Court heard yesterday he was visited in custody by his mother Linda Manning.

It is the first time the nine-man and three-woman jury have heard the voice of the man who allegedly tortured and battered 77-year-old Georgina Edmonds at her cottage in Brambridge near Eastleigh on January 11, 2008.

In the taped conversation, Hamlen was heard to say he was the subject of “a witch hunt” and he was being set up.

He said: “I haven’t done anything, Mum. You know I could not do it. It’s a witch hunt. They are trying to fit me up. They have nothing.”

Hamlen also said when he was first interviewed by detectives investigating Georgina’s murder he believed he was with friends including Sarah Wrigley.

His mum then offered to visit her, to see if that was the case.

When Hamlen told his mother that he had been advised by his solicitor that approaching Sarah “could backfire” Ms Manning replied: “Not if I go round there tomorrow and speak to her.”

Hamlen said he did not remember where he was in on January 11 2008. “I don’t know where I was. I was drunk. It was two and a half years ago and I can’t remember where I was last week.”

Hamlen also told his mother. “I have been stuck in a cell for 80-90 hours, with nothing to do. It’s driving me mad. I can’t sleep, I have nothing to read, I can’t watch TV. I wake up and I’m grilled. They are trying to get me to trip up.”

He later said: “My life is ruined, and your life is ruined. I’m sorry, Mum.”

Earlier the trial heard from detectives who had tried for weeks to speak to Hamlen.

Sgt Joanna Young, formerly a detective constable, said she called on Hamlen’s flat in The Crescent, Eastleigh, many times in July and August 2008 without success.

She eventually interviewed and took a statement from him on August 28, 2008. He said he could not recall where he was on January 11, 2008, but often went to local pubs, the Chamberlayne Arms and the Arrow. He said he might have been staying with his ex-girlfriend Emma White.

Sgt Young said Hamlen provided his DNA for analysis.

Richard Rock, former detective constable, said Hamlen’s satnav was examined but threw up nothing of interest to the investigators.

Hamlen, 36, an electrician, denies murder.

Proceeding