The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Mary Logie ‘puzzled at being overdrawn’
MURDER TRIAL: Friend says widow couldn’t understand what had happened to her money
A friend of alleged murder victim Mary Logie has told a court how the pensioner couldn’t understand why her bank account was overdrawn.
Mrs Margaret Dow, 81, told jurors on Friday how Mrs Logie, 82, was puzzled about why she had so little money.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Mrs Logie’s finances became so strained that she had to cut back on doing things which she enjoyed – such as her weekly visits to the hairdresser.
Giving evidence on the fifth day of the trial against Sandra Weir – the woman accused of murdering and stealing thousands of pounds from Mrs Logie – Mrs Dow said: “She told me she got a letter from the bank saying something about an overdraft.
“She was very upset – she didn’t understand why because she never went to what she called the hole in the wall.”
When prosecution lawyer Alex Prentice QC asked Mrs Dow whether her friend had to cut back on nice things which Mrs Logie regarded as being important, Mrs Dow replied: “Yes.”
She added: “She stopped going to the hairdresser every week.
“She had a manicure and she had to cut back on that as well.”
Mrs Dow, of Leven, Fife, was giving evidence as Sandra Weir sat in the dock just a few yards away.
Mrs Weir, also of Leven, denies murdering her neighbour Mrs Logie and seven other charges.
Yesterday Mrs Dow told the court she was a long standing friend of Mrs Logie. She said: “She was like a sister.” She told Mr Prentice that Mrs Logie was a very independent and dependable person.
Mr Prentice asked Mrs Dow what her friend was like with money.
She replied: “She was alright with money. She was like most people – she had to watch. We both had to watch the pennies.
“Over the last year, she was starting to say she was a little bit short.
“She would say to me ‘I don’t know if I’m going to manage to get my hair done this week. I might leave it until next week,’ – that wasn’t like her.
Mr Prentice also asked Mrs Dow about a ring which belonged to Mrs Logie. The prosecution lawyer asked Mrs Dow to describe it.
Mrs Dow told him it was an Onyx Pinky ring.
She said Mrs Logie – who was known to friends as Rae – was pleased with it and wore it often.
Mr Prentice asked: “Have you any idea why that ring might have been in a pawnbrokers type shop?” Mrs Dow replied: “None whatsoever.” Mr Prentice then asked: “Did Rae ever say she wanted to pawn her ring?” Mrs Dow replied: “No.” He asked her to look at a second ring which she said she recognised. She told the court: “That was one of the ones that she wore next to her wedding ring.”
Mr Prentice said he had it described as a diamond ring. The advocate depute then asked: “Have you any idea why that ring might have been the subject of a pawn or credit agreement?” Mrs Dow replied: “No.” Weir has pleaded not guilty to all charges facing her.
She is accused of killing the pensioner by repeatedly striking her with a rolling pin or similar instrument at Mrs Logie’s home on January 5.
She faces charges including attempting to defeat the ends of justice and stealing unknown quantities of money, two rings and Mrs Logie’s bank card.
Prosecutors allege she used Mrs Logie’s bank card to steal £4,460 at cash machines between December 2014 and January 4 this year.
Weir’s lawyer – solicitor advocate Murray Macara QC – has lodged a special defence of alibi.
The trial, before judge Michael O’Grady QC continues.
Over the last year, she was starting to say she was a little bit short.