Carer of woman missing for 18 years ‘predicted murder charge’
‘Scared by the police presence’
A MAN accused of killing a woman who has been missing for 18 years told police investigating her disappearance: ‘This is going to end up in a murder charge.’
Constable Jonathan Gilmour told the High Court in Glasgow Edward Cairney made the comment after he and a colleague went to a house looking for Margaret Fleming.
PC Gilmour was giving evidence at the trial of Cairney, 77, and Avril Jones, 58, who deny murdering Miss Fleming when she was 19 at the home they shared at Inverkip, Renfrewshire, between December 18, 1999 and January 5, 2000.
He told prosecutor Iain McSporran, QC, they were asked to investigate in October 2016 after a social worker had been unable to contact Miss Fleming. Mr McSporran asked the officer: ‘Did you say why you were there?’ He replied: ‘There was concern for the female and I was told she had not been seen for some time – 18 years was what I was told.’
He told the jury the door was answered by Jones who claimed Miss Fleming and Cairney were out. He said when Cairney joined them, he said they had been to Wemyss Bay.
PC Gilmour told the jury Cairney claimed Miss Fleming had been scared by the police presence and run off.
He said that as they questioned the pair, Cairney became more irate. The officer said: ‘He said, “You know where this is going don’t you Avril. This is going to end up in a murder charge”.’
It was suggested by Thomas Ross, QC, defending Cairney, that he never said this. The jury heard that items allegedly belonging to Miss Fleming were found in the house.
These were a tartan jumper, a blue T-shirt, socks and a toy penguin, which Jones said was Miss Fleming’s favourite toy.
But PC Gilmour told the court that they found no toothbrush or hairbrush and no underwear and there were no photographs of Miss Fleming.
The officer told the jury that in the early stages of a missing person investigation, it is normal to ask for personal effects in order to obtain a DNA profile.
He said he asked to see Miss Fleming’s birth certificate, which was produced.
A second police officer said Jones said that Miss Fleming’s benefits money was paid into her bank account. Constable Stuart Rintoul was asked how much Jones had said she received and he replied: ‘It was between £500 and £1,000 a month.
‘Avril said it went into her bank account as Margaret didn’t have one. She said she gave Edward his bit and Margaret her bit.’
The court was told when the police visited the house it was just days before Miss Fleming’s birthday, yet there was no sign of birthday cards or presents.
Cairney and Jones deny murdering Miss Fleming by means unknown. They also deny claiming £182,000 in benefits fraud by pretending she was alive.
The trial before Lord Matthews continues.