Doctor, 31, ‘supplied killer drugs at tattoo parlour’
Accused over woman’s death
A DOCTOR has gone on trial accused of killing a woman by allegedly giving her prescription drugs at a tattoo parlour.
Katy McAllister denies causing the death of Louise McGowan, one day after she allegedly supplied her with substances.
Lawyers acting for the 31-year-old entered not guilty pleas on her behalf on the first day of proceedings at the High Court in Edinburgh.
The medical professional, of Dundee, is standing trial on a total of 18 charges.
Yesterday jurors heard the contents of a legal document which detailed the allegations facing the Dundee University graduate.
Prosecutors allege that on May 9, 2015, at her home address, and at Voodoo Tattoo on the city’s Perth Road, Dr McAllister ‘did recklessly and unlawfully’ supply controlled and ‘potentially lethal’ drugs to Miss McGowan.
The Crown alleges the drugs supplied to Miss McGowan were tramadol, diazepam and temazepam, which are all categorised as Class C drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
She is also alleged to have supplied Miss McGowan with codeine, diphenhydramine and cyclizine.
Prosecutors say that Miss McGowan, who lived in Dundee, ‘ingested’ the drugs to the ‘danger of her health, safety and life and she died as a consequence of ingesting said drugs on May 10, 2015 and you did kill her’. The Crown also claims that on May 11, 2015, at her home in Dundee, Dr McAllister did have in her possession drugs called psilocybin and psilocin – both substances which are classified as Class A under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
The doctor is also facing charges which include an allegation that she stole quantities of the Class C drug midazolam from Ninewells Hospital in Dundee between June and August 2014.
Prosecutors also claim that Dr McAllister supplied or offered to supply drugs to a number of individuals in the Dundee area.
Jurors also heard from a statement of evidence which has been agreed between prosecutors and Dr McAllister’s lawyers.
The facts agreed include that Dr McAllister graduated from Dundee University on June 26, 2009, with a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery degree.
Both sets of lawyers also agree that she was ‘admitted’ as a ‘fully registered medical practitioner’ with the General Medical Council on August 4, 2010.
They also agree that she worked as a specialist registrar in acute medicine at Ninewells Hospital and that she began working there in June 2014.
The prosecution case is being conducted by advocate Tim Niven Smith, while Dr McAllister is represented by Mark Stewart, QC.
The trial, which is being heard before judge Graham Buchanan, QC, continues on Tuesday.
‘Denies causing death’