A lodger accused of murdering his landlady whose body was "destroyed" in a fire told police he had been "burning the piano" when police searched the garden, a court heard.
Allan Scott, 42, is on trial for the murder of Patricia Holland who had allowed him to lodge with her at her home on Lowestoft Road, Gorleston.
Norwich Crown Court has been told he burnt her body in a fire in the back garden in an attempt to fake the 83-year-old’s disappearance so he could continue living in her house.
On Monday (March 13) the jury was shown body worn video (BWV) footage from officers who attended Mrs Holland's home after she was reported missing in July 2021.
In footage captured by police on a third visit to the property, after 6pm on July 25 2021, police found the area where it is alleged Scott had burnt Mrs Holland's body in a firepit in the garden.
Scott was asked by an officer "What have you been burning here?".
He replied: "We've been burning the piano".
Scott said they had done that as they had not wanted to pay "£300 for a professional to remove it".
In all police made six visits to Mrs Holland's property on July 25 and the early hours of July 26 2021 in an attempt to find her.
During a third visit to her home, at just after 5.40pm on July 25, Scott told police he was getting "more frustrated" as he was getting "visits from the police all the time".
He said: "It's the third visit I've had from police in one day."
Scott told officers she was "cagey" with him, following an argument the previous evening, and had "no idea where she was really going."
He thought she had taken a stick and might have gone to "meet a friend" although they "didn't talk very much".
When police turned up at the property a fourth time, at just after 10.20pm on July 25 2021, Scott said: "I'm starting to get a bit p****d off now."
Police told him "well, it's her house and she's not here" with the officer telling Scott "it's not about you is it".
Scott was told police would do "whatever we need to and whenever we need to" in order to try and find her.
Scott told officers he was "concerned" as she was "one of my best friends".
Police visited for a fifth time, shortly after 11.20pm when Scott told officers he was getting "tired".
During that visit Scott was asked how she seemed and if she was upset.
Scott said "we had an argument the night before" adding "we weren't exactly on speaking terms".
But he went onto say Mrs Holland was "going to go to church to meet a friend".
He was told by police that "ultimately we're just trying to find her".
Officers made a sixth visit shortly before 1.20am on July 26 2021 when Scott was told by police they were just trying to think of Mrs Holland and "her safety".
But Scott said he just "wanted to go to sleep".
Scott, who had appeared emotional at times during some of the police visits, was arrested on suspicion of murder after police attended at just after 9am on July 26 2021.
He did not appear in the dock on Monday.
Judge Robinson told the jury the defendant had agreed the "prosecution case can continue in his absence and the defence team consider its in his best interests not to be in court at the moment".
Jurors were told "no inference should be drawn against him for the fact he's not here".
Scott, of no fixed address, but formerly of Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, denies murder.
The trial continues.
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