'Just going along for a ride:' accused in teen's death

One of two men accused of picking up a teenager at an Edmonton mall, then sexually assaulting andkilling her on a golf course told police he was "just going along for a ride."

In a videotaped interview with police shortly after his arrest in April 2005, Michael Briscoe said he was witha group of teens and young adultsthe night Nina Courtepatte, 13, died, but he didn't hurt her.

"Screwing kids is not my piece of pie, I just can't. It's not me, man," he said. "I can't kill people."

Judge hasn't ruled on statements

Briscoe, 36, and Joseph Laboucan, 21, have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping.

Thejudge hearing their case still has to rule on whether Briscoe's videotaped interview will be allowed as evidence.

Inthe interview, which was played in court, Briscoe said he didn't know the people involved very well, having only recently met them through his girlfriend. He said he drove the group to West Edmonton Mall, where they picked up Courtepatte and her friend, then to the Edmonton Springs Golf Resort, but had no idea what would happen.

Briscoetold policehe saw Laboucan and another male, who can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, sexually assaulting and beating the girl, but he was afraid for his own safety.

"And I wasn't about to step in, man, you know what I mean?" he said. "This other person has got two blades."

Briscoe said Laboucan, known to him as Snowman, was the ringleader.

"I'm not the person that initially did this. I was just going along for a ride."

Five people charged in girl's death

Five people faced charges in Courtepatte's death.

In December, a 19-year-old man pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.

Two women, aged 17 and 19, charged with first-degree murder, aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping are scheduled to go to trial later this year.

The three can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.