Men on trial accused of supplying drugs which killed new mum

A new mum died after meeting two men accused of killing her by giving her cocaine. 23 year-old Rebecca Tollan passed away at a house in Bellshill, Lanarkshire after being on her first night out following her pregnancy.

Barry McAuley, 40, and Martin Stewart, 34, are on trial charged with the culpable homicide of Rebecca. The duo are alleged to have "recklessly and unlawfully" given the "potentially lethal" class A drug to her on July 14 and 15 2019.

It is said to have happened at the Railway Tavern pub in Motherwell, Lanarkshire and at the house in Bellshill. The indictment states Rebecca died after "ingesting" the drug.

The pair deny the accusations

McAuley and Stewart deny the accusations at the High Court in Glasgow.

Rebecca's sister in law Pamela Tollan, 31, was the first witness in the trial .

The women had gone out on July 14 and eventually ended up in a beer garden at the Railway Tavern.

It was while there two drinks arrived at their table apparently ordered by two men sitting nearby, who Rebecca initially thought she recognised.

Rebecca and Pamela went on to sit with them.

Asked by prosecutor Alex Prentice KC if she would recognise the two men again, the witness pointed to McAuley and Stewart in the dock.

She found out one was called Barry-John and said the other man's name was Martin.

Pamela said together they were "having a laugh and a bit of banter".

Jurors heard Rebecca took cocaine in the toilet

The witness told how Rebecca - who she knew as Becky - then asked them if they had any "stuff".

Pamela: "I knew exactly what she meant...asking if they had any cocaine."

The court heard Barry John went on to give Pamela "a wee bag".

Pamela later ended needing to visit the loo and her sister in law joined her.

Mr Prentice: "Did you think Becky had another purpose to go to the toilet?"

Pamela: "To get the bag."

Jurors heard Rebecca took cocaine in the toilet before the women returned to the two men.

They all then eventually went to the house in Bellshill.

Pamela recalled seeing four lines of cocaine on a black plate.

After Pamela returned from the toilet, there was only one line of the drug left.

Mr Prentice asked the witness at one stage: "Did you take a line?"

She replied: "No as I am a bit of a scaredy-cat."

Pamela told the trial she later saw more cocaine and believed Rebecca took some.

Mr Prentice: "Were you concerned about the amount she was taking?"

Pamela: "Becky was her own person. No matter how much you told her, she would not listen.

Attempts were to save Rebecca at the house, but she never recovered

"I did tell her: 'You do not need it...you are having a good time'.

"I told her to stop because you do not need it."

Pamela eventually asked Martin to call a taxi to take the women home.

Mr Prentice asked did anything then happen.

An emotional Pamela said: "Becky started shaking. I just thought she was cold to start with.

"Martin asked was she epileptic and I said no. Martin put her in the recovery position.

"I was saying: 'What is happening to her?' I was shouting: 'Becky, Becky'."

Pamela recalled seeing blood with Rebecca having possibly bit her tongue.

She also recalled the fitting being "constant".

Mercy crews soon arrived to try and help her.

Pamela: "I kept saying: 'Becky, come on'. I tried to calm her and say it was alright."

Jurors heard Rebecca took cocaine in the toilet.

Attempts were to save Rebecca at the house, but she never recovered.

The court heard the man Pamela knew as Barry John was also unwell.

Stewart's KC later quizzed the witness on how much the women had to drink that day and night.

Donald Findlay, defending, said: "She (Rebecca) had given birth - was this the first time she had gone out since coming out the hospital?"

Pamela:"Yes."

Mr Findlay: "During her pregnancy, she abstained from alcohol?"

The witness again agreed.

The defence advocate: "Presumably she did not take cocaine either?"

Pamela stated she did not.

Mr Findlay: "So, the last time she would have been drinking would have been nine months before?"

Pamela: "Yes."

Stewart, of Viewpark, North Lanarkshire, faces separate charges of being involved in the supply of cocaine and cannabis.

McAuley, also of Bellshill, features on one those cocaine charges.

The trial, before judge Lord Clark, continues.

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