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| Garden grave 'not dug in a hurry' | Garden grave 'not dug in a hurry' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Vicky Hamilton murder trial has been shown details of how a body had been buried in a garden in Kent. | |
| A forensic archaeologist told the High Court in Dundee that whoever dug the shallow grave had not been in a hurry. | A forensic archaeologist told the High Court in Dundee that whoever dug the shallow grave had not been in a hurry. |
| Lucy Sibun said the neat regular shape of the 3ft-deep pit suggested it was not excavated at speed. | Lucy Sibun said the neat regular shape of the 3ft-deep pit suggested it was not excavated at speed. |
| Peter Tobin, 62, who once lived in the house in Margate, denies the abduction and murder of Vicky in 1991. Vicky was last seen in West Lothian. | Peter Tobin, 62, who once lived in the house in Margate, denies the abduction and murder of Vicky in 1991. Vicky was last seen in West Lothian. |
| Mr Tobin has claimed he was in the Portsmouth area when she disappeared. | Mr Tobin has claimed he was in the Portsmouth area when she disappeared. |
| Jurors were shown computer-generated images of the garden of the house at 50 Irvine Drive in Margate, Kent. | Jurors were shown computer-generated images of the garden of the house at 50 Irvine Drive in Margate, Kent. |
| The images featured an excavation showing two plastic bags and their contents - a body which had been cut into two separate parts. | The images featured an excavation showing two plastic bags and their contents - a body which had been cut into two separate parts. |
| The neat regular shape and neat sides of the grave suggested it was not excavated in a hurry Lucy Sibun | The neat regular shape and neat sides of the grave suggested it was not excavated in a hurry Lucy Sibun |
| In one bag, the court was told, was a lower torso in a kneeling position. | In one bag, the court was told, was a lower torso in a kneeling position. |
| In the other package was the top half of a body, hands almost covering the face. | In the other package was the top half of a body, hands almost covering the face. |
| The trial heard how the packages were taken to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital in Margate. | The trial heard how the packages were taken to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital in Margate. |
| Electrician David Martin, 57, who has lived next door to the property for more than 30 years told the court that Peter Tobin used to be his neighbour there and nodded towards the accused in the dock. | Electrician David Martin, 57, who has lived next door to the property for more than 30 years told the court that Peter Tobin used to be his neighbour there and nodded towards the accused in the dock. |
| 'Minor operation' | 'Minor operation' |
| Local authority records showed Mr Tobin took up a tenancy at the address on 25 March 1991. | Local authority records showed Mr Tobin took up a tenancy at the address on 25 March 1991. |
| Ms Sibun told the court the pit containing the body parts was discovered using radar. | Ms Sibun told the court the pit containing the body parts was discovered using radar. |
| She said: "This particular part of the garden was an anomaly picked up by ground penetrating radar, indicating part of the lawn near a garden shed." | She said: "This particular part of the garden was an anomaly picked up by ground penetrating radar, indicating part of the lawn near a garden shed." |
| A long series of photos showed how the excavation had continued through top soil, chalk and a layer of cement. | A long series of photos showed how the excavation had continued through top soil, chalk and a layer of cement. |
| Mr Sibun said there were indications that a spade had been used to dig the hole. | Mr Sibun said there were indications that a spade had been used to dig the hole. |
| Defence QC Donald Findlay asked how long it would have taken to dig, assuming it was the work of one person. | Defence QC Donald Findlay asked how long it would have taken to dig, assuming it was the work of one person. |
| "It is very hard to say because there are so many variables involved but I would say at least an hour, two hours, something like that," Ms Sibun told him. | "It is very hard to say because there are so many variables involved but I would say at least an hour, two hours, something like that," Ms Sibun told him. |
| Mr Findlay suggested: "This is not a minor operation. This is quite a substantial excavation in a garden and would take not an insubstantial amount of manpower." Ms Sibun agreed. | Mr Findlay suggested: "This is not a minor operation. This is quite a substantial excavation in a garden and would take not an insubstantial amount of manpower." Ms Sibun agreed. |
| Run away | Run away |
| Mr Tobin is accused of abducting Vicky and taking her to Robertson Avenue in Bathgate, West Lothian, on 10 February, 1991, which the Crown alleges was then occupied by him. | Mr Tobin is accused of abducting Vicky and taking her to Robertson Avenue in Bathgate, West Lothian, on 10 February, 1991, which the Crown alleges was then occupied by him. |
| The charge also alleges that there or elsewhere he drugged her, struggled with her, compressed her neck, indecently assaulted her and murdered her. | The charge also alleges that there or elsewhere he drugged her, struggled with her, compressed her neck, indecently assaulted her and murdered her. |
| He is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice. | He is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice. |
| It is alleged that he concealed Vicky's body and removed and disposed of a number of items of her clothing and footwear. | It is alleged that he concealed Vicky's body and removed and disposed of a number of items of her clothing and footwear. |
| He is also accused of cutting her body in two and wrapping it in coverings and bin bags. | He is also accused of cutting her body in two and wrapping it in coverings and bin bags. |
| Then, allegedly aware that police were conducting a missing person's inquiry, Mr Tobin is said to have put Vicky's purse under a portable cabin to mislead police into believing she had run away from home. | Then, allegedly aware that police were conducting a missing person's inquiry, Mr Tobin is said to have put Vicky's purse under a portable cabin to mislead police into believing she had run away from home. |
| Mr Tobin denies all the charges against him and has lodged a special defence of alibi, saying that between 1700 GMT and midnight on 10 February, 1991, he was in the Portsmouth area and was thereafter travelling to Scotland, arriving in Edinburgh at 0630 GMT the following day. | Mr Tobin denies all the charges against him and has lodged a special defence of alibi, saying that between 1700 GMT and midnight on 10 February, 1991, he was in the Portsmouth area and was thereafter travelling to Scotland, arriving in Edinburgh at 0630 GMT the following day. |
| The trial, before Lord Emslie, continues. | The trial, before Lord Emslie, continues. |