Jurors sent out to consider verdict in Caroline Glachan murder case
Robert O'Brien, Andrew Kelly and Donna Marie Brand deny killing the 14-year-old in 1996
Closing arguments have been heard in the case of three people accused of murdering West Dunbartonshire teenager Caroline Glachan.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC urged jurors to convict Robert O'Brien, 45, Andrew Kelly and Donna Marie Brand, both 44, of the "horrific and brutal" murder of the 14-year-old on August 25 1996.
The trio deny the accusation and have each lodged a special defence of alibi.
Court has heard Caroline was in a relationship with one of the accused
The trial at the High Court in Glasgow has earlier heard how O'Brien had been in a relationship with Caroline at the time. He was around four years older.
The teenager was said to have left her best friend that night to go and see O'Brien, who was known as Robbie.
Mr Prentice stated to jurors: "Caroline Glachan was an excited 14 year-old girl wanting to meet 18 year-old Robbie O'Brien on the Black Bridge at the River Leven.
"She was looking forward to meeting him.
"What she was looking forward to turned out to be a horrific and brutal attack and (she was) left to drown in the River Leven."
The prosecutor said the evidence in the two week trial - both direct and in-direct - presented a "compelling and convincing case" against the trio.
Prosecution says Robert O'Brien guilty of "murder, nothing less"
Mr Prentice: "The Crown case is that Robert O'Brien attacked Caroline with a blunt instrument and inflicted the 10 or so blows causing her to fall in the water and to drown.
"He is guilty of murder, nothing less."
He said Kelly and Brand - who O'Brien was also seeing at the time - are responsible on an "art and part" basis - a legal term of acting in "concert".
Jurors went on to hear from O'Brien's lawyer Ian Duguid KC.
He claimed there was now a trial 27 years after the murder because some "people in the community" where the death occurred had "decided to change their evidence" from the time.
Mr Duguid suggested the jury is being asked to "close the book" on the case after all these years and convict someone of Caroline's murder.
Addressing the jury in his speech, Ronnie Renucci KC, defending Kelly, stated: “The advocate depute took the constable to when Mr Kelly confirmed in a police interview that he was in Betty Wilson’s all night. He accepts that.
“It has always been his position - he did not leave the house that night.
“On April 26 the day before the body was recovered he said he heard the door that night and he did not answer it.
“Even if he was there, it might make him a lot of things like a coward but not a murderer.
"No evidence of any type" For Donna Brand's involvement
Thomas Ross KC, representing Brand, said: “This is a case where the prosecution consider there was no evidence of any type to the effect that Donna Brand laid a finger on Caroline Glachan.
“This is a case where there is no direct evidence that Donna Brand was present on the banks of the Leven at the time of the incident that led to the death of Caroline Glachan.
“Detective constable Anthony Adams said in her police interview that she said she in Betty Wilson’s house all night and had not left.”
The trial continues tomorrow before Judge Lord Braid, when the jury will be sent out to consider its verdict.
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