THE man accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death declined to take the stand at his trial.

Frederick Lawlor, 54, who allegedly buried the woman in a cellar where her body lay undiscovered for eight years, chose not to give evidence in court.

There were also no witnesses called at Manchester Crown Court for the defence of Lawlor, 54, who is charged with murdering Dorothy Carre, 56, in 1999.

Lawlor is alleged to have repeatedly stabbed her in the front bedroom of their house in Equitable Street, Rochdale, before burying her in a shallow grave in the cellar.

He denies the murder of Mrs Carre, who was originally from Bacup, between March 10 and June 30 1999.

In his closing speech, Neil Flewitt QC prosecuting, told the jury of seven men and five women that Lawlor was within his rights not to give evidence or to call any witnesses.

It did not alter the need for the prosecution to prove beyond doubt that Lawlor was guilty, he said.

But, he told the jury: "He cannot bring himself, we suggest, to admit this responsibility so he is sitting it out and he is saying to the prosecution, You prove it'.

"We suggest that we have risen to that challenge."

Christopher Melton QC, for the defendant, will make his closing speech tomorrow.