Trial starts for man accused of Carly McBride's cover-up

The trial for James Anthony Cunneen has started in Sydney, where he is accused of helping cover up the murder of Carly McBride. Prosecutors say Cunneen worked for three years to help another man evade police after Ms. McBride went missing in 2014. Carly McBride's remains were found in 2016 near Scone. According to prosecutors, Cunneen, who is 33 years old, met both the victim and the other accused man at a drug rehabilitation center shortly before her disappearance. During the trial, Crown prosecutor Kate Nightingale presented the case against Cunneen. She claimed he assisted his friend by providing false statements about their whereabouts on the day Ms. McBride disappeared. Nightingale argued that Cunneen and the other man had agreed to stay silent about their activities and mislead the police. Cunneen is trying to defend himself, claiming he did not participate in any cover-up. His lawyer, Mark Hobart, stated that the evidence against Cunneen is based on circumstantial information. He emphasized that there are no eyewitnesses or concrete evidence linking Cunneen to any action related to the crime. The trial is expected to last for three months as both sides present their evidence.