EDMONTON -- In an unusual twist, an Edmonton man accused of murder for strangling his mother told a jury yesterday his confession to police was false and he wasn't the killer.

Taking the witness stand in his own defence at his first-degree murder trial, Keshroy Bristol, 20, testified his ex-girlfriend was "responsible" for the Feb. 28, 2008, slaying outside a Mill Woods townhouse and said he took the rap because he feared she might "hurt" his younger brother.

"I know she was responsible," said Bristol, referring to his former girlfriend and the mother of their young daughter, Delmy Vega-Medrano. "I played no role at all."

Bristol told the jury Vega-Medrano told him to confess to police if suspicion began to turn towards them.

"I was told to confess to a killing I did not do ... if I didn't, the thing that happened to my mom, which I didn't expect to happen, would happen to my brother," he said.

Bristol testified Vega-Medrano hated his mom and was angry she wanted to adopt their daughter and said she had told him she wouldn't let anyone get custody of her.

She said "she would kill me and whoever stood in her way," said Bristol.

At the conclusion of cross-examination, Bristol was asked if he believed what he had just told the jury made sense.

He replied: "I believe it makes sense."

Last week, jurors watched a lengthy police interview in which Bristol eventually confesses to killing his mother, Beverly Parker, 49, outside their 828 Lakewood Rd. home about 11:30 p.m. as she returned from work.

During the videotaped confession, Bristol claimed he and Vega-Medrano had earlier discussed how to do it and said when he informed her that he had done it, she smiled.

The then-18-year-old admitted he was mad because his mother had given him an ultimatum, saying either she would adopt his daughter or he would have to move out.

Bristol detailed how he waited on the front steps for his mother to come home and then, as she went past him to open the door, he put the rope around her neck.

He said he held onto the rope for about 15 minutes with his eyes closed, noting it was so long that he lost feeling in his hands, and his arms were still hurting the next day.

At the end of the interview, Bristol is told he would be charged with murder and tells the detective: "I know that. It's exactly what I deserve."

On Friday, Vega-Medrano admitted she wanted Parker dead, but testified she was not involved in the killing.

Vega-Medrano told jurors she had said to Bristol several times that she wished Parker was dead because of the victim's attempts to adopt their then-10-month-old daughter.

However, under cross-examination, the young woman said it was "just a comment" and stemmed from her finding those attempts "frustrating" and being "upset" at Parker.

"I didn't tell him to kill her," said Vega-Medrano, also denying supplying Bristol with a rope or playing any part.

Closing arguments in the case are scheduled for today.

TONY.BLAIS@SUNMEDIA.CA