70-year-old man charged with rape and murder of Paisley woman
George Metcalff is also accused of covering up the murder of Patricia Henry
Last updated 24th Feb 2020
A man is to stand trial charged with the rape and murder of a missing Paisley woman.
George Metcalff is accused of killing Patricia Henry, who’d recently moved to Girvan, at her flat in the Ayrshire town on November 17 2017.
Prosecutors claim the 70 year-old attacked Patricia – known as Patti – by “means unknown”.
Metcalff is then charged with attempting to defeat the ends of justice between the day of the alleged murder and February 22 2018.
This includes an accusation that he “concealed and disposed” of the 46 year-old's body.
Metcalff is also accused of a number of other charges against Patricia, including rape.
This is said to have occurred between January 2008 and October 2011 at an address in Paisley.
He faces a separate accusation of sexually assaulting Patricia while she was sleeping in December 2014.
Metcalff also allegedly physically attacked her by choking her in October 2017.
The remaining accusations date back to June 1971 involving four other women.
This includes the rape of one at Gleniffer Braes in Paisley and in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire.
Metcalff is alleged to have carried out the same crime on another between October 1989 and Decmber 2004.
He is accused of physical assaults on the other two.
His QC Iain McSporran pled not guilty on his behalf during a short hearing at the High Court in Glasgow today/yesterday.
He added: “There are on-going discussions in what is a substantial case, but both the defence and prosecution are content for a trial to be set.”
Mr McSporran estimated the case lasting around four weeks.
Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC said “work continues”, but that would not prevent a trial being arranged.
Lord Matthews set the trial due to begin in June.
Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.