Girvan murder victim had previously feared for her life from accused
Patricia Henry allegedly told a friend she thought she was going to die when George Metcalff strangled her
A jury has heard a woman told a friend she thought she was going to die when she was strangled by the man who’s now accused of murdering her in Girvan.
Patricia Henry, 46, was allegedly killed by George Metcalff, 72, by means unknown at a flat in the town in November 2017.
Metcalff, known as Kenny, is also charged with attempting to defeat the ends of justice between the day of the alleged murder and February 22, 2018.
This lists an accusation that he did “conceal and dispose” of Patricia’s body again by unknown means.
The indictment features a number of other charges including the rape of Patti and a further three women.
Murder victim has allegedly told her friend she'd been raped by accused
The court heard from Patti's friend Gordon Meekie, 50, who claimed he chatted with her in October or November 2017.
The witness said: "She said he raped her before and there were a couple of sexual assaults.
"Not long before she went missing, he strangled her."
Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC asked what his reaction was.
He replied: "I just told her to stay away from him."
Mr Prentice asked if Patti made the allegation of strangling and sexual behaviour more than once.
Mr Meekie said: "I just remember it in November 2017 she said he strangled her in Kenny's house."
A police statement Mr Meekie gave in April 2018 was put to him by Mr Prentice.
It read: "Last year, I think November, Patricia told me that Kenny had strangled her.
"I thought he was going to kill me"
"She told me 'I couldn't breathe, I thought he was going to kill me'.
"This happened the night before she told me, I can't remember if she had any red marks or bruises on her neck."
Mr Meekie said Patti moved from the Paisley area to Girvan after her windows were smashed.
He claimed that Patti, Metcalff and himself did a flitting in a van from Paisley to Girvan.
Mr Meekie stated that Patti "shouted and balled" at Metcalff during the journey around midnight.
It's claimed Metcalff did not deny the allegations
The witness said: "She was calling him a dirty old man, a beast and a rapist."
Mr Prentice asked Mr Meekie what his own reaction was and he replied: "There was a storm and the road conditions were bad.
"I thought Kenny would have crashed the van and killed us all, that's what I felt.
Mr Meekie further stated that Metcalff did not deny Patti's allegations.
The trial continues before judge Lord Armstrong.
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