Jury urged to convict man accused of 1984 Glasgow murder

Defence counsel Sarah Livingstone told jurors there is no doubt that 58-year- old Mary McLaughlin was murdered in 1984.

In her closing speech at the High Court in Glasgow she said: "The real issue for you is who is responsible for that."

Referring to the charge McGill is facing she said: "The indictment is the Crown's theory about what happened because they have absolutely no eye witnesses.

"They rely on circumstantial evidence which by its nature is capable of more than one interpretation.

"You are being asked to speculate."

Ms Livingstone told the jury that they should not rely on DNA evidence.

She said: "DNA is not a magic solution to solve a crime no matter how much the prosecution want it to be.”

Referring to DNA attributed to McGill being found on a knot of the ligature tied round Mary's neck she said: “You don't have to touch anything for your DNA to be on it. It can be put on to items by secondary transfer.

The defence counsel said that Mary led a chaotic lifestyle and added: "The kind of life she led meant she may have exposed herself to dangers."

She also asked the jurors to examine why taxi driver David Seager who saw a man following Mary did not mention a scar when describing him.

Ma Livingstone added: "Graham McGill has a distinctive scar from one ear down to his chin.

"The taxi driver Mr Seager did not mention a scar in his description of the man who was following Mary McLaughlin, stalking her. The reason is it was not Graham McGill.

"You cannot be satisfied that the person who is responsible for the brutal, horrendous murder of Mary McLaughlin was Graham McGill."

Ms Livingstone urged the jury to clear McGill of murdering Mary saying: “I invite you to return a verdict of aquittal- either not proven or not guilty.

Judge Lord Burns is expected to give his charge to the jury on Friday and the jury will then retire.

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