Murder trial witness tells of confrontation after pub dad attack
BY GRANT McCABE A GOOD Samaritan who helped a dying dad told a murder trial yesterday he saw a man with a “seriously big knife” strolling away from the scene.
James Nolan said he found Owen Hassan with his “face hanging off ” outside the Old Stag Inn in Glasgow’s Pollokshaws last November.
The 65-year-old was giving evidence at the trial of David Callaghan, 30, and Craig Corrall, 39, at the High Court in Glasgow.
They deny murdering Owen.
Electrician James – who gave Owen CPR – had been at the bar for a meeting with other tradesmen.
The trial has heard how Owen, 30, came in that evening to collect keys and left before his mum Anne Marie Lynch, who ran the pub, became aware of an incident outside.
James recalled getting a fright after hearing a “clatter”. He went outside and found dad-of-three Owen on the ground trying to get up.
He said: “I just thought it was a punching or a kicking. I never expected this.”
James then noticed “a guy walking down the road”. Prosecutor Lynsey MacDonald asked: “How fast was he going?”
He said: “He was not – just a stroll. I said, ‘What the f*** are you doing?’
“The guy turned around and just stared at me. He had a weapon. There was no speech, nothing.
“It was a butcher’s knife. It was big... seriously big.”
James said he tried to stop Anne Marie seeing her son’s injuries, adding: “His face was off... like a hinge.”
Prosecutors claim Owen was chased, seized and repeatedly struck with knives or machetes.
The trial continues.