Brenda Page had 'real and deep-rooted fear' of being murdered, jury told
Dr Christopher Harrison is accused of murdering his ex-wife in 1978
Last updated 9th Mar 2023
A woman who was murdered nearly 45 years ago had feared that her ex-husband would kill her more than a year before her death, a jury at the High Court in Aberdeen has heard.
In a closing statement delivered by prosecutor Alex Prentice, he said the accused, Dr Christopher Harrison, was "consumed with anger and rage", urging the jury to convict him of killing Dr Brenda Page in 1978.
Mr Prentice cited a letter written by Dr Page in May, 1977, to her divorce lawyer, in which she wrote: “if I do depart this earth rather suddenly, please make sure I get a good post-mortem".
Mr Prentice continued to say that these messages were sent due to the "real and deep-rooted fear" she had that Dr Harrison would kill her.
A 'hotchpotch' of untruth
Defence advocate Brian McConnachie KC hit back, telling the jury that Dr Page "convinced" a number of people that Dr Harrison was an abusive husband, without any real evidence to support her claims.
He said: "The death of Brenda Page was a real tragedy.
"Do not compound that tragedy by convicting Dr Christopher Harrison on this hotchpotch of gossip, storytelling, innuendo and what would now be called fake news."
The trail, before Lord Richardson, continues.