NORWICH – For the first time since his arrest over a year and a half ago, accused murdered George Ford Jr. told his side of the story about the night 12-year-old Shyanne Somers was killed.

Under questioning by Defense Attorney Randel Scharf in Chenango County Friday, Ford told the court a version of events never before heard by the public.

“There’s not a waking hour that goes by that I don’t think of this,” said Ford during his testimony.

Ford, 44, of Piscataway, N.J., is charged with second degree murder. Ford arrived at Chenango Memorial Hospital with the girl’s body at around 4:30 a.m. on July 8, 2007, claiming he accidentally ran her over four hours earlier, while turning his truck around on Will Warner Road in the Town of Otselic.

Sheriff’s Lt. James E. Lloyd said investigators found the circumstances of the case suspicious and initially charged Ford with first degree reckless endangerment, saying he tested positive for alcohol and cocaine.

They later discovered a GPS tracking system inside his truck that recorded Ford’s travels on the night in question.