A former Peruvian spymaster whose misdeeds contributed to the collapse of Alberto Fujimori’s government eight years ago told a top court Monday that the ex-president had nothing to do with two death-squad massacres that he is accused of authorizing.

The testimony from former National Intelligence Service head Vladimiro Montesinos was one of the most-anticipated moments of Fujimori’s six-month trial, and was carried live on national television.

Emerging from prison in an impeccable dark suit with a matching tie and handkerchief, Montesinos at times mocked the judges and lectured them on national security, while refusing to speak much about his own work in intelligence.

He did say, though, that neither he nor Fujimori bear “any responsibility” in the army death squad attacks that killed 25 people in 1991 and 1992 _ crushing some Fujimori foes’ hopes that an already-imprisoned Montesinos would blame his former boss even if it meant further implicating himself.

Fujimori smiled several times while listening to Montesinos’ testimony.

The two men once were so close that critics called them “twins,” but Fujimori in recent years said Montesinos betrayed his trust. Montesinos defended himself at past trials by saying he had acted on Fujimori’s orders. Today he reversed those statements.

Monday’s hearing was the first known time Montesinos and Fujimori met face-to-face since a video leaked in 2000 showed Montesinos bribing a congressman. The tape helped bring down Fujimori’s government, pushing both men into exile for years.

Montesinos, 63, is now serving up to 20 years for crimes including corruption and running guns to Colombian rebels. He faces a 35-year sentence in a separate trial if convicted of organizing the death squad.

Fujimori, 69, is accused of approving the squad, and faces 30 years in prison if convicted of related homicide, kidnapping and grave injury charges. Both men say they are innocent.

Montesinos was reputed to have enormous power over the military and security forces during Fujimori’s presidency from 1990 to 2000, crushing leftist rebel movements while using influence, bribery and blackmail to silence or bend critics to his will.

In a rare prison interview, Montesinos once dared Fujimori to return from self-imposed exile in Japan to face Peruvian justice. But on the stand Monday, he provided just what Fujimori needed when asked about the massacres.

“Neither Mr. Fujimori nor yours truly has any responsibility in these events,” Montesinos said.