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Wife witness in World's End trial | Wife witness in World's End trial |
(40 minutes later) | |
The estranged wife of the man accused of murdering two teenagers 30 years ago has been giving evidence at his trial. | The estranged wife of the man accused of murdering two teenagers 30 years ago has been giving evidence at his trial. |
Angus Sinclair denies raping and killing Christine Eadie and Helen Scott, both 17, in 1977 after a night out at Edinburgh's World's End pub. | |
His wife Sarah Sinclair, 57, waived her right not to give evidence at the High Court in Edinburgh. | |
In a special defence, Mr Sinclair has blamed his deceased brother-in-law Gordon Hamilton for the crimes. | In a special defence, Mr Sinclair has blamed his deceased brother-in-law Gordon Hamilton for the crimes. |
Mr Sinclair is accused of carrying out the murders of the teenagers with Mr Hamilton. | |
Mrs Sinclair told the trial how her husband would go on fishing trips with her late brother, Mr Hamilton, which took up whole days. | |
She said she was legally separated from Mr Sinclair but they are still married. | She said she was legally separated from Mr Sinclair but they are still married. |
Late brother | |
Judge Lord Clarke told her that she was not legally obliged to give evidence at her husband's trial but she agreed to do so. | Judge Lord Clarke told her that she was not legally obliged to give evidence at her husband's trial but she agreed to do so. |
Mrs Sinclair said she married the accused in July 1970 after dating him for less than a year. | Mrs Sinclair said she married the accused in July 1970 after dating him for less than a year. |
After living in the centre of Edinburgh, the couple moved to Glasgow, where they were living at the time the girls died. | After living in the centre of Edinburgh, the couple moved to Glasgow, where they were living at the time the girls died. |
The registered psychiatric nurse was asked a number of questions about her late brother Mr Hamilton. | |
She said they were brought up in Glasgow in a family of nine children and that her brother and husband spent time together. | |
Helen Scott and Christine Eadie went missing in 1977 | |
Advocate depute Alan Mackay asked about a Toyota Hiace caravanette, which her husband bought in June 1977. | |
"Did he use the vehicle for fishing trips to your knowledge?" Mr Mackay asked, and Mrs Sinclair said he did. | |
"Normally a weekend," she added. "It would be the whole weekend." | |
Mrs Sinclair also said her husband would take her on trips to East Lothian where the girl's bodies were found in separate locations. | |
The court went on to hear from Alex Parker, 67, who confirmed that his family car dealership in Stepps, North Lanarkshire, sold the caravanette to Mr Sinclair in June 1977. | |
He said that the accused then sold the vehicle back to the dealership the following year. | |
Mr Sinclair is accused of acting alongside his late brother-in-law, of persuading or compelling the girls into a motor vehicle, holding them against their will and raping and murdering them. | |
The trial is due to resume on Monday |