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World's End father gives evidence | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The father of one of the World's End murder victims has told a court of the moment he heard his daughter was dead. | |
Morain Scott said he and his late wife became increasingly concerned when his daughter Helen failed to return from a night out in Edinburgh 30 years ago. | |
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that police went to their home with Helen's coat. Later, Mr Scott had to identify his daughter's body. | |
Angus Sinclair has denied raping and murdering Ms Scott and Christine Eadie. | |
Mr Scott told the court that his wife's health had subsequently gone downhill, she had never been the same person again and had died in 1989. | |
Separate locations | |
Margaret Craig, Christine Eadie's mother, also appeared as a witness. | |
She said the last occasion on which she had seen her daughter was on the Thursday morning before the Saturday night she went missing in October 1977. | |
The two girls, both aged 17, were last seen at the World's End pub in Edinburgh's Royal Mile. | |
Their bodies were found in separate locations in East Lothian the next day. | |
Earlier, the trial heard from pathologist Professor John Mason, who took part in the post-mortem examinations of the two girls. | |
He said both girls died as a result of ligatures tied around their necks and took "minutes" to die. | |
Do you agree professor that in the 21st Century DNA world things would be different? Edgar Prais QC | |
While being questioned by defence agent Edgar Prais QC, the 87-year-old former Edinburgh University professor of forensic medicine said he was unable to give a precise length of time it took for the girls to die. | While being questioned by defence agent Edgar Prais QC, the 87-year-old former Edinburgh University professor of forensic medicine said he was unable to give a precise length of time it took for the girls to die. |
However, he agreed with Mr Prais that Ms Scott's death "didn't happen with the click of a finger". | However, he agreed with Mr Prais that Ms Scott's death "didn't happen with the click of a finger". |
"All I can say is that I would have to measure that in a matter of minutes," the witness said. | "All I can say is that I would have to measure that in a matter of minutes," the witness said. |
Discussing Ms Eadie's death, Prof Mason said he had a "vague feeling" that she took less time to die. | Discussing Ms Eadie's death, Prof Mason said he had a "vague feeling" that she took less time to die. |
However, he added: "It would still probably be reckoned in terms of minutes rather than seconds." | However, he added: "It would still probably be reckoned in terms of minutes rather than seconds." |
Prof Mason was also asked a number of questions about the methods used by pathologists at the time of the deaths, including the use of gloves and thermometers on more than one body. | Prof Mason was also asked a number of questions about the methods used by pathologists at the time of the deaths, including the use of gloves and thermometers on more than one body. |
"Do you agree professor that in the 21st Century DNA world things would be different?" Mr Prais asked. | "Do you agree professor that in the 21st Century DNA world things would be different?" Mr Prais asked. |
"Everything would be different," the witness said. | "Everything would be different," the witness said. |
Mr Sinclair has been accused of acting alongside his now deceased brother-in-law, Gordon Hamilton in raping and murdering the girls after forcing them into a vehicle near the pub in the Royal Mile. | Mr Sinclair has been accused of acting alongside his now deceased brother-in-law, Gordon Hamilton in raping and murdering the girls after forcing them into a vehicle near the pub in the Royal Mile. |
Mr Sinclair will issue a special defence that any sexual contact with the girls was consensual and may put forward evidence blaming his late brother-in-law for any wrongdoing. | Mr Sinclair will issue a special defence that any sexual contact with the girls was consensual and may put forward evidence blaming his late brother-in-law for any wrongdoing. |