Jury retires for second day in Caroline Glachan murder trial
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A jury has retired for a second day to consider its verdict in the trial of three people accused of murdering a teenager in Scotland 27 years ago.
The 15 jurors must decide whether to convict or acquit any, or all three, of the accused over the death of Caroline Glachan in West Dunbartonshire.
Robert O’Brien, 45, Andrew Kelly and Donna Marie Brand, both 44, deny murdering the 14-year-old on August 25, 1996 at the river Leven, and have lodged a special defence of alibi.
A trial at the High Court in Glasgow has heard 10 days of evidence from various witnesses including friends of Caroline.
Prosecutors allege the three accused arranged to meet the teenager at a bridge near a towpath beside the river between Renton and Bonhill.
They are then alleged to have assaulted the 14-year-old, shouted and sworn at her and repeatedly kicked and punched her on the head and body.
It is claimed the trio threw bricks or “similar instruments” causing blunt force injuries to her head and body, before pushing or causing her to fall into the river, and ultimately murdering her.
On Tuesday morning, the court heard from trial judge Lord Braid that Advocate Depute Alex Prentice KC previously urged the jury to convict all three of the accused of the teenager’s murder in his summing up of the Crown’s case on Monday.
Mr Prentice was said to have argued that evidence given by a boy named Archie Wilson, who was then four-and-a-half years old, during the two-week trial was “pivotal” to the case.
The court heard the boy’s mother gave evidence that he had been taken to the river the night Caroline was allegedly murdered and witnessed her being assaulted and falling into the water.
Lord Braid sent the jury out to consider its verdict for a second day on Wednesday morning.
The jury was later sent home for the night and will continue its deliberations on Thursday.
