An inquest witness has denied being involved in Queensland teenager Annette Mason's murder in 1989, saying there were "lots of rumours" following her death.
The man - who can't be identified for legal reasons - rejected numerous claims he was heard confessing to the murder, describing one person who had made the suggestion as "junkie, lowlife scum".
Annette was 15 when she was bludgeoned to death in a house she shared with friends in Toowoomba in November 1989.
She died of blunt force trauma to the head inflicted with a piece of timber found in the laundry.
No one has been charged with her murder.
The witness was asked whether he was the murderer as he completed the entire day in the stand after the inquest resumed on Wednesday.
"I am giving you the opportunity now, I am putting it to you that you murdered Annette Mason - do you agree with that?" Mason family barrister Clem van der Weegen said.
The witness replied: "No I don't ... I wish you were there 30 years ago."
The witness also told counsel assisting the coroner Adrian Braithwaite that he was "barking up the wrong tree" when it was insinuated he killed Annette.
Coroner Terry Ryan is examining when, where and how Annette died.
He will also try to determine if anyone should be charged with Annette's murder or manslaughter.
The witness said on Wednesday there were many theories going around Toowoomba after Annette's death.
"There were a lot of rumours, that a girl done it. Annette was with some bloke and his girlfriend done it," he said.
"There was another rumour going around that she was blackmailing someone.
"There was a rumour going around that it was (an) accident too."
The inquest is a chance for Annette's family to finally get some answers after waiting decades.
Since the inquest resumed this year, her mother Judith Anderson and sister Linda Mason have been in attendance wearing yellow - Annette's favourite colour.
The first inquest in 1991 was closed and subject to "reopening at any stage should further evidence become available".
It was reopened in 2018, but then adjourned after only a handful of weeks and further delayed by COVID-19 and DNA testing by experts in New Zealand.
Police officers who investigated Annette's death more than 30 years ago will appear when the inquest is set to come to a close on Thursday.
Asked last month if she believed someone knew what had happened to her sister, Linda Mason said: "Absolutely, there has to be.
"People know but either they are too scared or they don't want to come forward rules.
"Those who may not have said something in the past may be compelled to say something now - we will wait and see."
