Carers ‘complex’ trial is delayed

THE trial of the two carers accused of murdering missing Margaret Fleming is set to be delayed by almost two months due to the complexity of the case.

Eddie Cairney and Avril Jones were due to appear to face a series of charges – including an alleged fraud said to total more than £180,000 – at the High Court in Glasgow.

But prosecutors and defence teams for both accused met prior to the hearing, which would have been the first appearance in public for Cairney and Jones since their arrest, and agreed to carry the case forward to a fresh date in April.

It is believed that more than 200 people have initially been cited to appear as witnesses — including scientific experts in geology and archaeology.

Leaders in these fields are expected to fly into Glasgow from as far afield as the United States when the trial begins around summer time.

The Crown claim that the Cairney and Jones – who reported Margaret missing in October 2016 – locked her in a room at their former home, ‘Seacroft’, in Inverkip, bound her arms and wrists with tape and held her captive against her will between November 1, 1997, and January 5, 2000. It is further alleged that between December 18, 1999, and January 5, 2000, while acting together, that by inflicting blunt force trauma on Margaret or means presently unknown, ‘they did murder her’.

The couple are currently remanded in custody after being fully committed for trial last November.