Woman tells of moment her fiance was shot dead in Adrossan home
Victoria Woods was giving evidence at the trial of James Ferguson, who denies killing Paul Cairns in May 2020
A woman’s told a court about the moment she witnessed her fiancé shot dead in their bed at their home in Ardrossan.
Victoria Woods was giving evidence at the trial of 43-year-old James Ferguson, also known as Garland Greene, who denies murdering 42-year-old Paul Cairns on May 24, 2020.
A masked gunman broke into the couple's Ardrossan home
26-year-old Woods told the jury a masked man broke into their home and said "You were f***ing warned" before firing the fatal shot.
She said despite the mask she was able to recognise the man as her partner’s childhood friend James Ferguson.
Miss Woods, who gave evidence last October due to ill health, claimed that they had been together for one-and-a-half years before getting engaged.
She stated that Mr Cairns stayed with her due to her health problems.
The witness said that the pair went to bed to watch TV around 12.30pm.
Miss Woods stated that a few of hours later Ferguson came into the room.
Prosecutor Alan Cameron asked what Ferguson did.
She replied: "He had a gun, I screamed at him and said 'I'm ill get out my f***ing room'.
"He said to Paul 'You were f***Ing warned'...Paul said no...and he shot him."
Paul Cairns was shot in the chest
Mr Cameron asked what happened after Mr Cairns was shot.
The witness said: "I panicked, Paul must have flipped over, he was lying on his front.
"I pulled Paul over and saw that he had it in his chest...he shot him in the chest."
Mr Cameron then asked what Miss Woods saw or heard during the incident.
She replied: "I heard a bang and I smelled smoke, I heard Paul go 'argh'.
"I just froze when he came in, I just froze."
Miss Woods stated Ferguson fired the shots near her grandchildren's cots and was wearing blue overalls, a white face mask and a black beanie hat.
Mr Cameron questioned as to how Miss Woods knew it was Ferguson.
She stated: "I know him, he is my cousin, I know his eyes, his voice and his build."
Miss Woods claimed that she tended to Mr Cairns by putting a towel on his chest before mercy crews arrived.
Miss Woods stated she told officers that Ferguson was the man responsible for the shooting.
Mr Cameron asked how Ferguson and Mr Cairns knew each other.
The victim and the accused had been friends since they were children
She said: "They had been friends since they were four-years-old."
The prosecutor finally asked if Miss Woods knew what Ferguson was referring to before the shot was fired.
She replied: "No, no idea."
Tony Graham, defending, asked Miss Woods if she would have heard Mr Cairns on the phone as they lived together and she said "Yes."
Mr Graham questioned whether she was aware of any issue between Ferguson and Mr Cairns.
She replied: "No, they were fine in March."
Mr Graham followed up: "From what you know, they couldn't have seen each other since?"
Miss Woods stated: "I don't think so."
Mr Graham asked: "I will suggest once that it wasn't James and you are mistaking this person for James as you can only see eyes and hear the voice?"
The witness replied: "I'm certain it was James."
She then denied that she was mistaken as she was on medication at the time and the incident lasted a "short time."
The trial continues tomorrow before judge Lord Arthurson.