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Suzanne Pilley murder trial hears 'blackmail' claim | Suzanne Pilley murder trial hears 'blackmail' claim |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Suzanne Pilley murder trial in Edinburgh has heard that the man accused of killing her told his boss that he felt she was blackmailing him. | The Suzanne Pilley murder trial in Edinburgh has heard that the man accused of killing her told his boss that he felt she was blackmailing him. |
Simon Peck, director of IML, where both David Gilroy and Ms Pilley worked, said Mr Gilroy had not elaborated on how she was blackmailing him or over what. | Simon Peck, director of IML, where both David Gilroy and Ms Pilley worked, said Mr Gilroy had not elaborated on how she was blackmailing him or over what. |
Mr Gilroy is accused of killing Ms Pilley either in Thistle Street or elsewhere in Scotland in May 2010. | Mr Gilroy is accused of killing Ms Pilley either in Thistle Street or elsewhere in Scotland in May 2010. |
He denies all the charges against him. Ms Pilley's body has never been found. | He denies all the charges against him. Ms Pilley's body has never been found. |
Giving evidence at the High Court in Edinburgh, Mr Peck said he also knew Mr Gilroy as a friend outside work. Both men worked at Infrastructure Managers Ltd, along with Ms Pilley. | |
He said he had been to meet the accused at his flat four days after Ms Pilley went missing. | |
Second meeting | Second meeting |
Mr Peck described the meeting as "emotional" and said he hugged Mr Gilroy who then explained his affair with Ms Pilley. | |
He said Mr Gilroy had talked of spending about £8,000 on her during their relationship and of carrying out repairs on her flat. | He said Mr Gilroy had talked of spending about £8,000 on her during their relationship and of carrying out repairs on her flat. |
Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC asked Mr Peck if he knew what was meant by the term blackmail and he answered "yes". | |
The prosecutor asked if there was any mention of anything of that nature and Mr Peck responded: "It did come up. Just that he felt he was being blackmailed by her." | |
He was questioned on whether Mr Gilroy had expressed any concerns for Ms Pilley. | |
Mr Peck replied: "Probably not as much as I thought he might bearing in mind the explanation he had given me about their relationship." | |
He told the court that at a second meeting five weeks later Mr Gilroy had seemed "different" and "combative", but not towards him. | He told the court that at a second meeting five weeks later Mr Gilroy had seemed "different" and "combative", but not towards him. |
He said the accused had told him 12 years of military training had helped him deal with the past few "difficult weeks". | |
Mr Gilroy denies seven charges including murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice. | Mr Gilroy denies seven charges including murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice. |
Ms Pilley was captured by CCTV cameras on buses, on the street and in a supermarket on the morning of 4 May 2010, the date she disappeared. | Ms Pilley was captured by CCTV cameras on buses, on the street and in a supermarket on the morning of 4 May 2010, the date she disappeared. |
Ms Pilley was travelling to her city centre workplace but her colleagues never saw her arrive. | Ms Pilley was travelling to her city centre workplace but her colleagues never saw her arrive. |
The trial before Lord Bracadale continues. | The trial before Lord Bracadale continues. |