Carers to stand trial for murder of woman 19 years ago
THE carers of a woman they are accused of murdering more than 19 years ago are to stand trial in April.
Margaret Fleming was reported missing in October 2016 from her home in Inverkip, Inverclyde , but has allegedly not been seen since December 1999.
Edward Cairney, 77, and Avril Jones, 58, are accused of assaulting and murdering Margaret and fraudulently claiming £182,000 in benefits by pretending she was alive.
Mr Cairney and Ms Jones deny murdering Ms Fleming at the home they shared at Seacroft, Main Road, Inverkip. Yesterday, at the High Court in Glasgow Ms Jones was in court to enter a not guilty plea through her defence QC Ian Duguid.
Mr Cairney, who is represented by QC Thomas Ross was not in court having been excused attendance.
Mr Ross said: “He has mobility problems.”
Prosecutors allege that the pair assaulted Ms Fleming between December 18, 1999 and January 5, 2000, when she was aged 19, by means unknown and murdered her.
It is alleged that Mr Cairney and Ms Jones abducted Ms Fleming at her home on various occasions between November 1, 1997 and January 5, 2000, and that they locked her in a room, cut her hair, and bound her arms and wrists with tape and other materials.
The pair are also accused of between December 18, 1999 and October 28, 2016 they pretended to Department of Work and Pensions officials that Miss Fleming was alive and fraudulently claimed £182,000 in benefits.
They also face two charges of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
The pair also face two charges of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by boarding a train to London on October 25, 2017, with £3,500 in cash and keys to a safe deposit box which contained £27,000 and by pretending to social workers police, and officials from the Department of Works and Pensions between December 18, 1999 and October 26, 2017, that she was alive.
They deny all the charges against them.
Cairney is also accused of assaulting Margaret Cruikshanks on November 26, 1997, at Seacroft by pushing her against furniture, knocking her to the ground, placing his hands round her neck, compressing her throat, threatening her with violence and repeatedly spitting on her face.
Judge Lord Matthews set the trial diet for April 23 at the High Court in Glasgow.