Defense counsel for Simon McCartney has alleged that his client had been framed by the police for the murder of his wife Ashika Lata as he crossed examined the investigating officer in the case this morning.

Sevuloni Valenitobua today stressed to High Court Judge Justice Daniel Gounder that records at the Central Police Station (CPS) gave an accurate account of McCartney's whereabouts since October 26th till charges were laid against him and alleged that various police statements have been changed to try and conceal this.

Valenitobua questioned the investigating officer Balwant Singh on his role as the Head of the team investigating the alleged murder.

Singh told the court that charges against McCartney were laid after a directive by the Assistance Police Commissioner Crime Nazir Ali.

Singh admitted under caution that he was not aware of who was responsible to take statements from various witnesses and that he did not thoroughly read the file on the murder case handed to him from Nadi.

He maintained that while he was the Investigating Officer, he did not supervise the team and that the directive for charges to be laid came from Nazir Ali as their supervisor.

Valenitobua highlighted that the police records show clearly details of the number of times McCartney was taken in and out of CPS which verifies the statements given by his client.

He said his client maintains that he did not commit the offence and the case is a frame-up.

The trial continues tomorrow.