Court hears murder accused asked friend for money
Bala Chinda, 26, denies murdering Jessica McGraa
A man accused of murdering an Aberdeen mum borrowed money from a friend days after her death, a court has heard today.
Bala Chinda is on trial accused of raping and killing Jessica McGraa, at a flat on Aberdeen's Union Terrace on February 11 last year.
The 26-year-old Nigerian allegedly forced Miss McGraa's face into a pillow and asphyxiated her.
Giving evidence yesterday, hairdresser Solomon Omekefe said he met the student while cutting his hair in a King Street salon earlier that year.
The court heard that Chinda later contacted him to ask if his sister could transfer money into the hairdresser's bank account.
Mr Omekefe said: "He said he didn't have any money with him.
"When he came he told me that as a new student they have to open up an account.
"And so he told me that he doesn't have an account."
The 25-year-old said he could not recall when the two men agreed the £500 money transfer but remembered handing Chinda cash a few days after the alleged murder.
He said he withdrew cash on two separate days, with the last withdrawal taken from a Morrrisons supermarket near the church he attends on King Street.
Advocate depute Paul Kearney asked: "You said to police that you gave him 300 pounds on Saturday the 13th and 200 pounds on Sunday the 14th, were you telling them the truth?"
He replied: "Yes."
Mr Kearney asked: "You said on Sunday you went to a church service with him and then you went to Morrisons and took out 200 pounds to give him him the remainder of the money?"
He replied: "Yes."
Chinda denies the offences. The trial continues.