Pensioner tells court he did not murder Paisley mum

A man has denied murdering and disposing the body of a missing mum he described as having a "heart of gold."

71 year-old George Metcalf allegedly killed 46 year-old Patricia Henry known as Patti, at a flat in Girvan, Ayrshire, on November 13, 2017.

Metcalff giving evidence at the High Court in Glasgow told jurors that in all likelihood Patti wouldn't be alive.

The former assistant manager tyre specialist claimed he was not involved in her disappearance despite being charged with murdering her on the date he last saw her.

Prosecutors claim Metcalff attacked Patti by “means unknown”.

Metcalff 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 Patti’s body again by unknown means.

The indictment features a number of other charges including the rape of Patti and a further two women.

Iain McSporran QC, defending, asked Metcalff, who was giving evidence: "As far as you are aware, where is Patricia Henry?"

Metcalff replied: "I really don't know."

Mr McSporran said: "As far as you are aware, is she dead."

Metcalff responded: "No."

Mr McSporran asked: "Do you believe her to be alive?"

Metcalff said: "The way things are going, I'm not sure."

Mr McSporran asked: "Is it fair to say on the evidence of an extensive police inquiry to find her that it doesn't appear that she is alive?"

Metcalff responded: "Yes."

Mr McSporran said: "Do you have anything to do with her disappearance or death?"

Metcalff replied: "No."

Metcalff stated that he had consensual sex with Patti four times in 2010 and 2011 when she lived above his flat.

He denied that it was a sexual relationship.

Metcalff claimed he was unaware that Patti went to Gran Canaria for several months before she moved back to the area.

He stated that Patti would visit him and denied that he mistreated or argued with her.

It was put to Metcalff that Patti made rape allegations against him in front front of several witnesses.

Mr McSporran asked: "Did you rape her?"

Metcalff replied: "No."

Metcalff further denied claims heard during the trial that Patti woke up to him touching her or that he strangled or controlled her.

Mr McSporran asked why Patti would say serious things about him.

Metcalff replied: "When she was drinking she had a tongue on her, when she was sober, she had a heart of gold."

Metcalff stated Patti later moved in with him amid a neighbour dispute.

He alleged Patti broke down in his presence and told him that she wanted to return abroad and "never come back."

Metcalff claimed he helped Patti move to Girvan as her cats and his dogs were not getting on.

He stated he became her guarantor and paid £700 for the deposit and first month's rent believing he would be paid back by Patti's benefits.

Metcalff stated he hired a van to do two flittings for Patti but added that he did not own a key to the flat.

Metcalff claimed the last time he saw Patti was on November 13 - the day he is accused of murdering her.

He stated that he drove down to her flat to tell her that a cooker was going to be delivered later in the week.

Metcalff said he was also asked to go an errand for her and took money from her bank accout to pay it back to him.

Mr McSporran asked if he ever saw Patti again after that day.

He replied: "No."

Mr McSporran said: "Did you have further contact?"

Metcalff said: "I think I tried to phone on Tuesday night" but stated he was unable to contact her.

Metcalff alleged he hired a van to take an old bed to the dump two days later but there was no reponse from knocking Patti's door.

He stated that he put the bed in the dump the following day.

Metcalff denied Mr McSporran's suggestion that he used the van to dispose of Patti's body and that it was a "ruse or a ploy."

Metcalff stated he went on further trips to Patti's flat but there was no sign of her, some of her clothes or passport.

He claimed to have got a key cut for the flat in order for the cooker to be fitted.

Mr McSporran asked if he had any concerns for Patti at that time.

He replied: "I just thought she'd done a runner."

Metcalff stated he went back to flat to wallpaper a wall in February 2018 before handing the keys back to the landlord when he gave up the lease.

Mr McSporran asked: "On November 13, 2018, was there a catastrophic falling out between you and Patti which resulted in you killing her by some means?"

Metcalff replied: "No."

Metcalff earlier denied suggestions that he raped two other woman and physically assaulted them.

He claimed that he only knew about the alleged offences when he was charged with them.

Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC asked if Metcalff was familiar with Jekyll and Hyde and a dual nature.

He replied: "Yes."

The advocate said: "You can be loving, kind and generous but also strike a woman in a manner she fractured her left arm."

Metcalff replied: "I didn't strike her."

Mr Prentice suggested that Patti caught Metcalff trying to touch her while she was asleep and that she called him a beast and a rapist.

Mr Prentice asked why he continued doing things for Patti despite the accusations.

He said: "I felt sorry for her."

Metcalff claimed he was "left in the lurch" financially by Patti and no longer considered her a friend.

He stated this was only the case after she went missing and not on the day of her alleged murder.

Mr Prentice asked why Metcalff collected an old bed and mattress of Patti's "in the dead of night" in a van on November 15 - two days after prosecutors say he murdered her.

He replied: "The roads are quiet then."

Metcalff also refuted a suggestion by Mr Prentice that he did this for the purposes of concealing anything.

Mr Prentice put to Metcalff that he failed to tell police he was driving in the van on the usual route he took to Girvan the following day.

The prosecutor asked: "Were you not concerned about Patti at this time?"

Metcalff replied: "No."

Mr Prentice said: "You were not concerned because you killed her?"

Metcalff again stated: "No."

Metcalff then denied accusations that the trip was used to "dispose evidence."

In reference to the allegations made against him and his financial loss, Mr Prentice asked if Metcalff "just lost it?"

He replied: "No."

Mr Prentice lastly said: "Do you not think the time has come to look at Patricia Henry's family and tell them where she is?"

Metcalff responded: "I don't know where Patti is."

The trial continues on Monday before judge Lord Armstrong.

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