Rolling pin trial hears of ‘banging from flat’

THE neighbour of a pensioner allegedly beaten to death with a rolling pin yesterday told a court ‘huge bangs’ from the floor above her home prompted her to run to the flat. Gwen Smith went to Mary Logie’s home after hearing noises similar to that of ‘somebody hammering’ coming from the 82-year-old’s property.

The witness told the High Court in Edinburgh she lived downstairs from Mrs Logie in Leven, Fife, and went upstairs to see what was going on.

She explained to a jury that she ran to her neighbour’s door and that Sandra Weir, who is on trial for the murder of Mrs Logie, answered it crying and claiming the pensioner had fallen, leaving blood ‘everywhere’.

Mrs Smith told prosecution lawyer Alex Prentice, QC, on the third day of the trial that she came across a ‘horrible situation’. She said she went upstairs after hearing huge bangs on the floor as she sat down to watch soap operas with her children around 8pm on January 5.

She added that she had earlier heard someone saying ‘Ouch’ after she had heard a banging on the floor.

Mrs Smith, 64, said the later noise was like ‘somebody hammering to draw my attention’ and added that Mrs Logie would often seek help by banging on the floor.

She told Mr Prentice that Weir, 41, told her Mrs Logie had been injured, adding: ‘Sandra says to me, “She’s fell and there’s blood everywhere”.

‘I said, “It’s all right, calm down, I will go and see”. I then opened the door and there’s Mary.’

When Mr Prentice asked her what she encountered, Mrs Smith replied: ‘A horrible situation.’

She said Mrs Logie was lying on her living room floor and, asked if she saw an item lying nearby, Mrs Smith replied: ‘A rolling pin on the couch.’ She added: ‘I think it was quite obvious what had happened to her.’

She also told the court that as she looked at Mrs Logie lying on the floor, Weir appeared emotional. She said: ‘She was crying. She had tears in her eyes. She grabbed hold of my arm.

‘I went out and shouted to my son to phone for an ambulance.’

She told defence solicitor advocate Murray Macara, QC, that Weir’s husband was helping Mrs Logie as they waited for paramedics to arrive.

She added: ‘He was taking her pulse… he was holding a tea towel on her head.’

Mrs Smith was giving evidence on the third day of proceedings against Weir, who denies eight charges including murder.

Earlier, the court heard Weir had a drug problem and had run up a debt of £320 in the month Mrs Logie died.

Aaron Robertson, 44, told the court he had supplied Weir with heroin over a six-month period and that she was taking a quantity costing about £70 every two days.

He said she had a credit arrangement with him and by January had a debt of £320. The debt was paid off on January 14, the court heard.

Weir is accused of killing the pensioner by repeatedly striking her on the head and body with a rolling pin or similar instrument.

She faces eight charges, including attempting to defeat the ends of justice and stealing unknown quantities of money, two rings and Mrs Logie’s bank card or cards.

Prosecutors allege she used Mrs Logie’s bank card to steal £4,460 at cash machines between December 2014 and January 4 this year.

Weir denies the charges against her. Her legal team have lodged a special defence of alibi in relation to the murder charge.

The trial, before judge Michael O’Grady, QC, continues.

‘It was a horrible situation’