Cops dismissed foul play over death of police chief ’s wife
... but he was later charged with murder, trial told
DETECTIVES initially treated a woman’s death as ‘nonsuspicious’ before new evidence led them to charge her ex-police officer husband with murder, a court heard.
The body of Alice Farquharson had been found last August at the home in Aberdeen she shared with her husband Keith.
Inspector Christopher Kerr contacted CID colleagues with concerns he had over how she may have died.
But jurors heard that investigating detectives concluded there had been no crime.
It was only when Mr Kerr pushed for further inquiries that a murder probe was sparked.
Farquharson, 60, is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow. He denies murdering his 56-year-old wife on August 29 last year.
Mr Kerr was one of the officers who attended at the couple’s home following an earlier 999 call.
Alice had died that morning, despite efforts to save her life.
Farquharson, a retired police inspector, was initially described as being ‘tearful and upset’.
The court heard he was asked what had happened.
He allegedly told Mr Kerr he got up that morning, then ‘went through for coffee’ before hearing a noise from the bedroom and discovering his wife.
Jurors earlier heard claims that Farquharson was in the shower when he heard a ‘thud’ and then gave his wife CPR.
Mr Kerr said he found him to be ‘unsure and doubtful about his recall’.
The inspector went on to check the body, which was lying in her bed. The officer noticed ‘abrasions’ on her face. Mr Kerr said he ‘found the nature of the death to be suspicious’.
He informed CID before asking Farquharson and other relatives to leave the property.
Mr Kerr recalled Farquharson ‘protested’ at this and seemed to be ‘agitated’.
The officer added: ‘He made a remark to me and said, “I feel like I am an accused”.’
However, the trial was told the incident was later ‘treated as non-suspicious’.
In his examinaton of Mr Kerr, prosecutor Alex Prentice, QC, told him: ‘You had reached a view this should be treated as a suspicious death.
‘But a detective inspector and sergeant decided the matter was not suspicious and that the home was to be returned to the family. Did you agree with that assessment?’ Mr Kerr replied: ‘No.’ The officer then agreed that he was ‘not content with the outcome reached’. He also agreed that he had instructed further inquiries, including a post-mortem examination, to be ‘expedited immediately’.
When asked if he later learned a murder inquiry was being launched, Mr Kerr replied: ‘That is correct.’
Ian Duguid QC, defending, later quizzed him about Farquharson apparently protesting at being asked to leave his home.
When Mr Duguid asked if he found that odd, Mr Kerr replied: ‘Under the circumstances, the majority of families are supportive, but Mr Farquharson said
‘Unsure and doubtful about his recall’ ‘I feel like I am an accused’
something like “are you joking?” and had to be calmed down.’
The murder charge alleges Farquharson seized hold of Alice and struggled with her before compressing her neck and face.
It is further claimed he left her unconscious after ‘restricting her breathing’ by covering her nose and mouth. He is then said to have caused blunt force injury ‘by means unknown’.
The trial, being heard before Lady Stacey, continues.