This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7720020.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Trial hears of Vicky purse find | Trial hears of Vicky purse find |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| The last people thought to have seen schoolgirl Vicky Hamilton alive have told a trial of the night she vanished. | The last people thought to have seen schoolgirl Vicky Hamilton alive have told a trial of the night she vanished. |
| A former chip shop worker, a driver and a managing director have given evidence to say they saw a girl matching Vicky's description on 10 February 1991. | A former chip shop worker, a driver and a managing director have given evidence to say they saw a girl matching Vicky's description on 10 February 1991. |
| Edinburgh chef Hamish Watson also told the High Court in Dundee how he found a purse bearing Vicky's name on a city street 11 days after she disappeared. | Edinburgh chef Hamish Watson also told the High Court in Dundee how he found a purse bearing Vicky's name on a city street 11 days after she disappeared. |
| Peter Tobin, 62, denies any involvement in the 15-year-old's death. | Peter Tobin, 62, denies any involvement in the 15-year-old's death. |
| The teenager's remains were found buried in the garden of a house in Margate, Kent, in November last year. | |
| Mr Tobin has lodged a defence of alibi, claiming he was in the Portsmouth area when she disappeared on 10 February 1991. | |
| Shop assistant Lynda Newman, 55, said a girl came into Valente's chip shop in Bathgate at about 25 or 20 minutes to six in the evening. | Shop assistant Lynda Newman, 55, said a girl came into Valente's chip shop in Bathgate at about 25 or 20 minutes to six in the evening. |
| "She was getting a bag of chips and she asked where she would get a bus to Falkirk," said Mrs Newman. | "She was getting a bag of chips and she asked where she would get a bus to Falkirk," said Mrs Newman. |
| I was unaware at this time of the significance of the purse as we had not received any [missing person] notification at this time Lillian WilliamsonPolice clerk witness statement She paid for her chips with a five pound note and left to walk the short distance to the bus stop. | I was unaware at this time of the significance of the purse as we had not received any [missing person] notification at this time Lillian WilliamsonPolice clerk witness statement She paid for her chips with a five pound note and left to walk the short distance to the bus stop. |
| Retired driving instructor Catherine Bryce, 62, said she was driving in the West Lothian town's South Bridge Street when a girl ran into the road, stopped and looked at her. | Retired driving instructor Catherine Bryce, 62, said she was driving in the West Lothian town's South Bridge Street when a girl ran into the road, stopped and looked at her. |
| Shown a photo of Vicky, she said: "It looks like the same face but her hair was slightly longer than that." | Shown a photo of Vicky, she said: "It looks like the same face but her hair was slightly longer than that." |
| Alec Meek, 44, said he too was asked directions and also asked the way to the chip shop. | Alec Meek, 44, said he too was asked directions and also asked the way to the chip shop. |
| Managing director Robert Meechan, 43, said he was heading for a video shop when a polite young lady asked him directions to a bus stop which was only about 150 yards away. | Managing director Robert Meechan, 43, said he was heading for a video shop when a polite young lady asked him directions to a bus stop which was only about 150 yards away. |
| Giving evidence about finding a purse at Edinburgh's St Andrew's Square, chef Hamish Watson, 43, told the court he came upon it on his way to work at the George Hotel on 21 February 1991. | Giving evidence about finding a purse at Edinburgh's St Andrew's Square, chef Hamish Watson, 43, told the court he came upon it on his way to work at the George Hotel on 21 February 1991. |
| He said: "It didn't look as though it had been here very long." | He said: "It didn't look as though it had been here very long." |
| The trial heard that items in the purse, such as a hospital appointment card, indicated the purse belonged to Vicky of Redding, Falkirk. | The trial heard that items in the purse, such as a hospital appointment card, indicated the purse belonged to Vicky of Redding, Falkirk. |
| Missing person | Missing person |
| Mr Watson said: "It was in plain sight." He then explained how he noticed the purse was dry, even though the street was damp. | Mr Watson said: "It was in plain sight." He then explained how he noticed the purse was dry, even though the street was damp. |
| He handed it in to St Leonard's police station when he left work that afternoon. | He handed it in to St Leonard's police station when he left work that afternoon. |
| The purse then went to Lothian and Borders Police HQ at Fettes. | The purse then went to Lothian and Borders Police HQ at Fettes. |
| The court was also told that police initially failed to link the chance find of the purse with the missing person inquiry. | The court was also told that police initially failed to link the chance find of the purse with the missing person inquiry. |
| Solicitor general Frank Mulholland QC, prosecuting, asked Mr Watson if he knew who the purse belonged to. | Solicitor general Frank Mulholland QC, prosecuting, asked Mr Watson if he knew who the purse belonged to. |
| He said he did not. "The hours I was working, if you didn't catch a news bulletin you didn't know what was going on," he added. | He said he did not. "The hours I was working, if you didn't catch a news bulletin you didn't know what was going on," he added. |
| The trial was also shown a statement from Lillian Williamson, a former senior clerk in the lost property department at Fettes, who has since died. | The trial was also shown a statement from Lillian Williamson, a former senior clerk in the lost property department at Fettes, who has since died. |
| "Examination of the contents showed it was the property of Vicky Hamilton," she told ex-detective sergeant John McDonald, 65, and a letter had been sent to Vicky's address to tell her about the find. | "Examination of the contents showed it was the property of Vicky Hamilton," she told ex-detective sergeant John McDonald, 65, and a letter had been sent to Vicky's address to tell her about the find. |
| "I was unaware at this time of the significance of the purse as we had not received any notification at this time," her statement continued. | "I was unaware at this time of the significance of the purse as we had not received any notification at this time," her statement continued. |
| Mr McDonald said the purse had later been taken to London where it featured in a BBC Crimewatch programme about the hunt for Vicky. | Mr McDonald said the purse had later been taken to London where it featured in a BBC Crimewatch programme about the hunt for Vicky. |
| Alibi defence | Alibi defence |
| Mr Tobin is accused of abducting Vicky and taking her to Robertson Avenue in Bathgate, West Lothian, on 10 February 1991, which the Crown alleges was then occupied by him. | Mr Tobin is accused of abducting Vicky and taking her to Robertson Avenue in Bathgate, West Lothian, on 10 February 1991, which the Crown alleges was then occupied by him. |
| The charge also alleges that there or elsewhere he drugged her, struggled with her, compressed her neck, indecently assaulted her and murdered her. | The charge also alleges that there or elsewhere he drugged her, struggled with her, compressed her neck, indecently assaulted her and murdered her. |
| He is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice. | He is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice. |
| It is alleged that he concealed Vicky's body and removed and disposed of a number of items of her clothing and footwear. | It is alleged that he concealed Vicky's body and removed and disposed of a number of items of her clothing and footwear. |
| He is also accused of cutting her body in two and wrapping it in coverings and bin bags. | He is also accused of cutting her body in two and wrapping it in coverings and bin bags. |
| Then, allegedly aware police were conducting a missing persons inquiry, Mr Tobin is said to have put Vicky's purse under a portacabin to mislead police into believing she had run away from home. | Then, allegedly aware police were conducting a missing persons inquiry, Mr Tobin is said to have put Vicky's purse under a portacabin to mislead police into believing she had run away from home. |
| Mr Tobin denies all the charges against him and pleads alibi, saying that between 1700 GMT and midnight on 10 February 1991, he was in the Portsmouth area and was thereafter travelling to Scotland, arriving in Edinburgh at 0630 GMT the following day. | Mr Tobin denies all the charges against him and pleads alibi, saying that between 1700 GMT and midnight on 10 February 1991, he was in the Portsmouth area and was thereafter travelling to Scotland, arriving in Edinburgh at 0630 GMT the following day. |
| The case, before Lord Emslie, at the High Court in Dundee continues. | The case, before Lord Emslie, at the High Court in Dundee continues. |