MURDER ACCUSED LIED TO POLICE
Grieving Victim’s dad hits dad out slams at son‘s liar and lover says as fallout from bitter court trial continues
A woman who was controversially cleared of the murder of her boyfriend’s sister can today be exposed as a liar who tried to hide her identity from police.
Angela Newlands gave a false name to officers in a bid to evade prosecution when she was caught driving while banned.
The 28- year- old’s brazen behaviour came while she and her lover Jordan Johnstone, 25, were facing murder charges over the death of his 22-year-old sister, Annalise Johnstone.
Annalise’s body was found dumped at the Maggie Wall’s Witch Monument in Dunning, Perthshire, in May last year. Her throat had been cut and she sustained unsurvivable injuries.
Newlands was cleared of the murder in May after a high court judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to convict her of the crime. Johnstone – who admitted carrying his dead sister’s body for two miles and dumping her by a roadside – was also cleared of murder after the jury returned a not proven verdict.
Annalise’s father, Gordon, said he was not surprised to learn that Newlands – who has multiple previous convictions, including for crimes involving violence and dishonesty – had lied to police.
He said: “It doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. Why should it? She is bad news and will always be in trouble for as long as she lives. It’s the way she has been raised and it will continue to happen – mark my words.”
Speaking at his home in Fauldhouse, West Lothian, the 44-year-old admitted he was still struggling to come to terms with the death of his daughter.
He said: “The only thing I want is justice for Annalise and I honestly don’t think that will ever happen. She will never get justice – and that’s what hurts most.
“Since her death, every day has been a struggle. You don’t want to get out of bed in the morning because you know nothing can be done to br ing just ice about.
“My health has deteriorated, as has that of other members of the family. We still cannot fully believe what has happened. And it doesn’t get any easier as time moves on.”
The murder case was one of the most controversial in recent Scottish legal history.
After Newlands was cleared, Johnstone blamed her for the murder and told the jury she had blackmailed him into covering it up.
The case, heard by Lady Scott at the High Cour t i n L iv ingston, caused Gordon incredible pain and frustration.
He said he had even thought about taking justice into his own hands.
But he added: “Of course, the temptation is there but what good would it do? Would that be justice? I know for a fact the law would be down on me so, in the end, it wouldn’t really be justice for Annalise. And that is what hurts the most.” Gordon revealed he still watches home movies of the children in their younger years.
He said: “It breaks my heart when Annalise appears on the screen. It becomes hard to watch as I still remember holding her in my arms when she was born.
“These memories hurt like hell. That and knowing Annalise will never get the justice she deserves.”
Newlands, of Perth, appeared at the city’s sheriff court last Monday and pled guilty to a series of motoring offences committed while she was on bail.
She admit ted dr iving a Vauxhall Astra Ecof lex while disqual i f ied and with no insurance in Perth on July 18, 2018. She also admitted failing to comply with a direction arrow road sign. Newlands, who was
She is bad news and will always be in trouble for as long as she lives
accompanied to court by her mum Cheryl, also admitted trying to pervert the course of justice by lying to the police in the city’s Foundry Lane on the same date.
She admi t ted tel l ing officers that she was Danielle Newlands, and was born on February 28, 1988, in an attempt to evade detection and prosecution for the driving offences.
The Crown accepted her not guilty pleas to further charges of driving while banned and without insurance in Dundee on July 4 last year.
Sheri f f Pino di Emidio deferred sentence on Newlands for a criminal justice social work report and told her “driving while disqualified is a very serious matter”.
Newlands has eight previous convictions for 12 offences including crimes of violence and dishonesty between 2006 and last year.
She was conv ic ted of shoplifting in 2017 and again in 2018.
Newlands was a l so convicted of assault in 2008 and twice again in 2013.
Gordon added: “Wi th motoring offences, the majority are simply dealt with by a slap on the wrist – even if it involves dangerous driving.
“No wonder people are getting fed up with the law and the courts because they are not tackling the serious issues.
“More often or not, the law makes excuses and allows even guilty people to go unpunished – and this is sending out the wrong message.
“People don’t feel they are getting justice any more and it is wrong.”
Despite the highh court setback, Gordon still remains involved in a battle to bring about justice for Annalise, nnalise, a l though he admidmitt s the l i kelihood off this happening remains highly doubtful.
He said: “I honestly estly cannot see it happening ening but you can’t give up. p.
“As anybody else inn our situation knows, it is totally heartbreakingng to feel so helpless. Yet you are expected to carry rry on regardless.”