Murder trial hears about pensioner's plea for help after stabbing

A pensioner flagged down a refuse truck for help after being attacked in a Glasgow street, a court has heard.

Cleansing worker Paul Donohoe, 54, told how he and his two colleagues were told by John Baker “I've been stabbed”.

Mr Donohoe said his colleague phoned an ambulance for the injured man who called out words to the effect “I've got a bad heart, I can't breathe right” before passing out.

One of the workmen can be heard on a recording to the emergency services saying there was "blood coming from his mouth” and “I can't feel a pulse”.

Mr Donohoe was giving evidence at the trial of Peter Telfer who is accused of murdering 76-year-old Mr Baker on June 29 last year in Calton, in Glasgow's east end.

Telfer is also accused of assaulting and attempting to rob shop worker Owaisuddin Siddique at the Day-Top on Shettleston Road and carrying a knife on June 24.

He also faces a string of charges including behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at various streets in Glasgow city centre and assaulting and robbing two women of their handbags, on June 28.

The 25-year-old allegedly attempted to defeat the ends of justice as well being charged with possessing cannabis.

Mr Donohoe said around 12.30am he and his colleagues were working on Abercromby and as they began to drive away were flagged down by a man in the middle of the road.

He told the court the man said “I've been stabbed” and added: “He looked like he was in pain”.

He said by the time they got out the car the man had “fallen to the ground” and his colleague Alan Miller asked Mr Donohoe to get his phone then support the injured pensioner.

Mr Donohoe told jurors "he was leaning against my legs".

Advocate depute Ian McSporran, prosecuting, asked: “How did he appear to you to be at this time?”

Mr Donohoe replied: “He appeared as if he was ready to collapse, I was just hoping the ambulance would come in time.”

Mr McSporran asked: “Were you able to converse?” and the witness replied: “Not converse, he was calling out along the lines of 'I have a bad heart', I can't breathe right'.”

The court was told that he appeared “seriously injured” and that the man “passed out” while Mr Miller was on the phone to the ambulance service.

A recording of the 999 call made by Mr Miller was played to jurors, other voices can be heard in the background.

One person was heard to say there was two wounds on Mr Baker's back and that he has “trouble breathing”.

The operator is told he is “spitting up blood”, that he is “losing consciousness” and “I can't feel a pulse”.

Telfer denies the charges and the trial before judge Lord Matthews continues.