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Priest 'did not know' about death | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A priest has denied any knowledge of the death of Polish student Angelika Kluk whose body was found concealed under the floor of a Glasgow church. | |
Father Gerry Nugent, 63, who admitted having a sexual relationship with the woman, told the High Court in Edinburgh he knew nothing about her death. | |
The 23-year-old's body was found under the floor of St Patrick's Church, Anderston, in September. | |
Peter Tobin, 60, denies raping and murdering Ms Kluk. The trial continues. | |
Father Nugent was repeatedly accused of lying by defence counsel Donald Findlay QC when he claimed he knew nothing of the trapdoor just feet from his confessional. | |
Mr Findlay asked the priest: "Father, however difficult it may be, is there something you wish to tell us about the death of Angelika Kluk?" | |
Father Nugent said: "I know nothing about the death or the circumstances of her death." | |
You were angry with her, rage fuelled by jealousy and no doubt fortified from time to time by drink Donald Findlay QC | |
He also denied he was consumed by jealousy and rage after he found out that Angelika was having an affair with a married man. | |
The priest, who resigned from the parish two weeks ago, said he was deeply concerned about her after their sexual relationship. | |
He also admitted a sexual relationship with musician Sarah Howie who played in the church. | |
Mr Findlay read the court words written by Ms Kluk, in which she said: "I sometimes feel I was always like a nice teddy bear to Gerry. | Mr Findlay read the court words written by Ms Kluk, in which she said: "I sometimes feel I was always like a nice teddy bear to Gerry. |
"When it was interesting to play with me, everything was OK, but when I stopped to admire him as much as before he just put me in the dark closet." | "When it was interesting to play with me, everything was OK, but when I stopped to admire him as much as before he just put me in the dark closet." |
Mr Findlay challenged Father Nugent about "rummaging" in Angelika's room in the chapel house. | Mr Findlay challenged Father Nugent about "rummaging" in Angelika's room in the chapel house. |
Angelika's body was found under the floor of St Patrick's | |
The priest denied this and said there were church items stored there. | The priest denied this and said there were church items stored there. |
Mr Findlay said: "On one occasion you not only went into her room, you were rummaging in her bin. What were you looking for?" | Mr Findlay said: "On one occasion you not only went into her room, you were rummaging in her bin. What were you looking for?" |
Father Nugent said: "I was not looking for anything. It was what I saw." | Father Nugent said: "I was not looking for anything. It was what I saw." |
Mr Findlay said: "You were looking for, and found, evidence of sexual activity, namely a condom." | Mr Findlay said: "You were looking for, and found, evidence of sexual activity, namely a condom." |
Father Nugent: "I wasn't looking in the bin, I saw it. | |
"That is when I thought there must be a relationship going on here." | "That is when I thought there must be a relationship going on here." |
Betrayal of trust | |
Mr Findlay said: "Isn't it the truth Father, particularly after you discovered the nature of the relationship, a sexual relationship, between Martin MacAskill and Angelika you were consumed by jealousy?" | |
"I certainly wasn't angry and I wasn't jealous," Father Nugent said. | |
Mr Findlay said the priest became cold and hardly spoke to Ms Kluk after this. | |
"You were angry with her, rage fuelled by jealousy and no doubt fortified from time to time by drink," he said. | "You were angry with her, rage fuelled by jealousy and no doubt fortified from time to time by drink," he said. |
Father Nugent denied this. He admitted telling Rebecca Dordi, a student from St Petersburgh, about the condom but denied it was a betrayal of trust. | Father Nugent denied this. He admitted telling Rebecca Dordi, a student from St Petersburgh, about the condom but denied it was a betrayal of trust. |
Jurors saw photos of a hatch in the church floor, near the confessional, which led to Ms Kluk's body on 29 September. | Jurors saw photos of a hatch in the church floor, near the confessional, which led to Ms Kluk's body on 29 September. |
Conceal information | |
Father Nugent said he did not know it was there. | Father Nugent said he did not know it was there. |
The trial heard Sarah Howie, who he had a sexual relationship with, had told police of a search of St Patrick's for secret passages, after which she had told Father Nugent of the hatch. | The trial heard Sarah Howie, who he had a sexual relationship with, had told police of a search of St Patrick's for secret passages, after which she had told Father Nugent of the hatch. |
Earlier, Father Nugent admitted telling Rebecca Dordi - described as a devout woman with links to St Patrick's - to conceal information from the police. | Earlier, Father Nugent admitted telling Rebecca Dordi - described as a devout woman with links to St Patrick's - to conceal information from the police. |
The murder charge alleges that Mr Tobin attacked Angelika between 24 September and 29 September in St Patrick's Church, raped her, battered her and repeatedly struck her with a knife. | The murder charge alleges that Mr Tobin attacked Angelika between 24 September and 29 September in St Patrick's Church, raped her, battered her and repeatedly struck her with a knife. |
It is alleged that he then hid the body under the floor of the church in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice. | It is alleged that he then hid the body under the floor of the church in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice. |
In a special defence read to the jury, Tobin admits having sex with the Polish student, with her consent. | In a special defence read to the jury, Tobin admits having sex with the Polish student, with her consent. |