Jury in rape trial see video

The jury in a rape trial in Aberdeen has been played a video of the accused’s police interview where he denied sleeping with the alleged victim.

Prosecutors allege Sammy Stewart raped a 27-year-old woman at a property on Spey Road on September 24, 2014.

The Crown claims Stewart took advantage of her while she was “intoxicated and under the influence of drugs”.

The 29-year-old denies the charge and went on trial at the city’s high court on Tuesday.

Detective Sergeant Karen McKellar, who arrested and charged Stewart, was called to the witness stand yesterday.

The jury was played a recording of DS McKellar’s interview with Stewart the day after the alleged attack.

In the interview, Stewart claimed he had met the woman in a cafe in Aberdeen Market in the

“The only DNA would be hair follicles from a hug”

morning. He told officers they had gone their separate ways but later met in the Market Arms.

After visiting other pubs, Stewart told DS McKellar he had then attempted to drop the woman off in a taxi as she was drunk but she had asked to come in and use his toilet.

He said she had then gone into his bedroom and lay under the covers but denied they had sex. Stewart claimed he told her his then girlfriend would be coming back and she would have to leave. When he went to the toilet, he told officers, she left.

However, DS McKellar read out a number of texts between the pair that evening where she claimed he had been flirting.

He said the only DNA of his that would be found on the woman would be “hair follicles from a hug”.

The trial continues.