Court hears Paisley murder accused confessed on phone to ex-girlfriend

A man accused of murdering a dad and getting rid of his chopped up corpse was spotted putting a “heavy” suitcase in a bin.

46 year-old David Collins allegedly dumped the item outside his flat in Paisley, Renfrewshire last August.

The torso of missing Kevin Bishop was later found there.

Jurors heard how Collins earlier told an ex-lover how he had “hurt” Kevin and that parts of his body were already “away”.

Collins is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow charged with murdering the 32 year-old, dismembering the body and hiding the remains.

He denies the charge and claims self-defence.

His former girlfriend 41 year-old Anne Melville gave evidence.

The pair had dated in the 1990s and were not in regular contact since.

But, Collins then called her last July where he appeared “drunk” and “could hardly speak”.

He apparently claimed he had “hurted his best friend's brother” at his flat.

Anne said she knew Collins was friendly with Kevin's half-brother Shaun Bishop.

Collins said there had been a confrontation and that “Kevin died”.

Anne told the court: “I asked him was he sure and to check if Kevin was OK.

“He said 'no' and that he knew he was gone.”

The witness was shown a statement she made to police about the call.

In it, Anne is said to have asked Collins: “What are you going to do? Fire him in a wheelie bin?”

Collins replied that body parts were “already away”.

Prosecutor Gillian Ross asked the witness: “What did you say to him after he told you what happened to the body?”

Anne: “I actually did not think it was true.”

She later went to Collins flat with their daughter days later to give him a birthday present.

Anne also brought with her a suitcase that had belonged to Collins.

He went on to take the case with him into a bedroom.

Miss Ross: “What happened when he came out?”

Anne: “He was heavily sweating.”

She recalled going into the room at one point and there was “something on the floor wrapped in plastic”.

It was described as a "square thing".

Anne added: “He lifted it and put in the suitcase.”

Miss Ross asked: “Did you question him as to what he was doing?”

She replied: “No.”

The trio then went outside and Collins had the case with him.

Anne: “He put it in the bin...it looked heavy.”

The jury heard Collins then smashed a bottle of aftershave over the bin.

Anne recalled: “I did not know what to do. I thought I will wait and see if the guy turns up. There was nothing that I could do.”

The court was told Kevin was reported missing after relatives had not heard from him.

His torso was found in the bin on August 13. Other parts of his body have yet to be recovered.

Collins is said to have used a machete to strike the 32 year-old with other injuries inflicted by “means unknown”.

The murder is said to have occurred between July 27 and August 1 this year.

Collins is then accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

It is claimed he did “dismember the body” of Mr Bishop severing his head, legs and arms with a machete, knife or similar items.

Remains are said to have been dumped at a mystery location.

Collins is then alleged to have wrapped Kevin's torso in bin bags, a sheet and tape before hiding it in a suitcase, which was stuffed into a bin.

He is said to have covered the case in bleach and aftershave.

Prosecutors claim this was all done in an “attempt to conceal” the alleged murder.

The trial, before Lady Rae, continues.