Former girlfriend of murder accused Ronnie Coulter gives evidence at Surjit Singh Chhokar trial
A former girlfriend of murder accused Ronnie Coulter has told a jury she could not remember giving evidence in two previous murder trials because of “brain fog.”
A former girlfriend of murder accused Ronnie Coulter has told a jury she could not remember giving evidence in two previous murder trials because of “brain fog.”
Forty-seven-year-old Alexandra Tierney was giving evidence for a second day at the trial of Coulter, 48, from Wishaw, who denies murdering Surjit Singh Chhokar – known by everyone as Chhokar - in Garrion Street, Overtown, North Lanarkshire on November 4, 1998 by stabbing him.
The jury has heard that Miss Tierney – known as Sandra - gave evidence at the trial of Ronnie Coulter for murder in 1999 and at the murder trial of his nephew Andrew Coulter and David Montgomery – known as Chez in 2000.
All three men were acquitted of the murder of Chhokar at the trials.
She was asked by prosecutor Alex Prentice QC: “Do you remember giving evidence in the trial of Ronnie Coulter,” and replied: “No.”
The prosecutor then asked: “You have no memory of giving evidence in the trial of Andrew Coulter and David Montgomery,” and Miss Tierney responded: “No.”
Miss Tierney was asked why she had no memory of this and said: “I just can't remember. I've done my hardest to black it out.”
She then told the jury she had 'brain fog” caused by illnesses and medication she takes.
Miss Tierney said that she suffers from Dercum's disease and was asked how that affects her memory and replied: “It can cause brain fog. There are no consultants in Britain. The only consultant you can see is in the US.”
She was asked by Mr Prentice how she knew this illness affected memory and said: “I learned from a website because there's not a doctor in the UK that deals with it.”
Miss Tierney was read transcript from the previous trial and agreed that she was telling the truth then.
She told those trials that Ronnie Coulter asked her to dispose of a black bag of wet clothes and a box containing knives the day after Chhokar died.
Ronnie Coulter has lodged a special defence to the murder charge blaming his nephew Andrew Coulter and David Montgomery.
Both men in evidence denied having anything to do with the killing of Chhokar.
Ronnie Coulter denies all the charges against him.
Speaking of her memory loss Miss Tierney said: “I forget people's names. I can't tell you what I done last week. I can hardly tell you anything about growing up.”
Mr Prentice asked if she told Joseph Buchanan – the man she asked to help her dispose of the clothes and the knife box - anything about the stabbing and she replied: “I can't remember.”
The QC then asked her: “Did you say to him it was Ronnie your ex-man that done the stabbing,' and Miss Tierney replied: “I can't remember.”
Mr Prentice then said: “Might you have said that,” and she responded: “No.”
She was asked how she knew she hadn't and replied: “I never ever asked who done it. I was never told what happened that night.”
Miss Tierney, 47, who is known as Sandra, told the court that she was in a relationship with Ronnie Coulter for five years and had a son by him. They broke up when their child, who is now 22, was around a year old.
She was asked by defence QC Donald Findlay: “Your break up was not particularly friendly,” and replied: “No.”
The QC added: “You have no reason to put yourself by doing Ronnie Coulter any favours,” and Miss Tierney said: “No.”
Mr Findlay then asked: Ronnie Coulter never said anything to you to suggest he was in any way responsible for the death of Chhokar, “ and Miss Tierney replied: “No.”
The trial continues.