AUBURN – Jurors began deliberations Friday in the trial of two Lewiston men accused of kidnapping and murdering an 81-year-old man by running him over in the victim’s car along a dirt road in Turner.

Shaun Tuttle, 22, and David Lakin, 23, both testified that they awoke from a drunken stupor to find the other assaulting James McManus. And both said the other was behind the wheel when McManus’ head was crushed by his Buick Century.

The Androscoggin County Superior Court jury got the case after closing arguments and deliberated briefly before heading home for the weekend. Jurors will resume their work Monday.

Lakin testified Thursday after Tuttle wrapped up his testimony. He told jurors that Tuttle “stole my story” about being passed out in the car’s back seat.

The two men are accused of abducting McManus on March 9, 2004, then driving him to North Turner, where he was killed. His body was discovered the next day.

While Tuttle and Lakin have blamed each other, both the killer and anyone who aided and abetted are both guilty of murder, prosecutors said.

Lakin testified Thursday that he and Tuttle went drinking at a pub and later went to McManus’ apartment in Lewiston, where they were invited inside and spent the rest of the evening drinking shots of McManus’ vodka.

Lakin said he passed out in the car after they agreed to go for a drive to get some fresh air because Tuttle had vomited.

He said he awoke to find the car parked on a dirt road, and he looked out the window to see Tuttle choking McManus. He said Tuttle got back in the car and drove off, pinning McManus in his headlights before driving over him.

Tuttle, meanwhile, claimed that he spent the day drinking and later met up with Lakin outside the pub. The two had never met before, Tuttle testified, but agreed to go to an after-hours party together. Tuttle testified that the two walked to McManus’ apartment in search of a car.

Tuttle said McManus initially refused to give Lakin his keys, but finally relented and agreed to accompany the two. He said he passed out and awoke to hear sounds of an assault. He said Lakin got back in the car and ran over McManus.

The two did agree on one thing: Both said they drove around after the killing and smoked pot before parting ways early on March 10.