A man accused of killing his mother-in-law claimed he never argued with her, a jury was told.
Mohammed Soboh, 41, is on trial at Lewes Crown Court for the murder of Pauline Knowles-Samarraie, who was his former wife before he married her daughter.
Mrs Knowles-Samarraie, 72, was found dead at the bungalow the family shared in Rottingdean on April 22 last year.
She had been battered with a heavy metal lintel before being set alight.
Soboh, who denies murder, claims he and Mrs Knowles-Samarraie were good friends.
In a recorded interview with police shown to the jury, he said: “We were very happy. We never had a problem.”
When asked if they ever argued, he replied: “Not really.”
The court has heard Soboh lived at the bungalow in Grand Crescent with his wife, Nada, their two children, her teenage son from a previous marriage, and Mrs Knowles-Samarraie.
Soboh, now of New England Road, Brighton, was arrested after he found the body and rang 999.
He had been alone in the house with Mrs Knowles-Samarraie but claims he went out leaving her cooking herself lunch. He said when he realised he had forgotten his mobile phone he returned home to find the house on fire and her burning body in the kitchen.
The trial continues.
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