The man accused of killing Irish exchange student Nicola Furlong in Tokyo last year has sharply contradicted the prosecution account of the events leading up to her death.
Nineteen year old musician Richard Hinds, denies murdering the 21 year old but has admitted "lightly" pressing on her neck.
Today under cross examination he said he did so for only 30 seconds.
He said a statement he made to police that he had pressed her neck for up to three minutes was incorrect and that police failed to change it when he asked them to.
The doctor who carried out an autopsy on Nicola's body has told the court he believes that she was strangled with a bath towel - or similar item - for several minutes.