The younger man, who was a teenager at the time of the alleged murder of William Chaplin in 2010, is standing trial.

An older man was also allegedly involved.

A witness on Tuesday recalled an incident in the older man's house, near the scene of the alleged murder.

The witness said the older man stated the young man had stepped up and he was proud of him for helping "take care of some business".

The witness said he'd laughed at the older man.

"He ended up pulling a blade on me," the witness said.

The older man, he said, had held the large hunting blade, similar to a bowie knife, to his throat.

"What you think we're talking s---, wanna go next, something like that," the witness recalled the man saying.

The incident lasted five to 15 seconds and the younger man stood next to the door.

The witness said the younger man had "kinda" blocked the door after being motioned by the older man.

"I ended up leaving a short time after that," the witness said.

"I don't think I ever went back after that."

The witness had been friends with the younger man, who is accused of cutting Mr Chaplin's throat.

The witnesses said he'd seen an image of Mr Chaplin in the paper and thought he looked familiar, but couldn't recall ever meeting him.

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The mother of a woman who said she saw Mr Chaplin's body, and helped stoke a fire to burn his remains, also gave evidence.

She said the younger man told her he'd had to "sort out some bloke" with the older man.

The woman said her daughter had told her she'd been "made to get rid of evidence".

Forensic anthropologist Denise Donlon examined Mr Chaplin's remains in September 2019.

Police had provided information to Dr Donlon that he had been buried in a shallow grave, placed in a round yard used to break in horses, placed in another grave and a fire started above it.

Police said an upwards facing skull and other bones were recovered, which the doctor checked for defects.

She told the court there were defects in vertebrae and to a rib, and multiple heat related bone fractures.

She couldn't say what caused the bone defects.

The trial continues.

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