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| Lynda Spence trial: Murder accused 'made threat' to parents | Lynda Spence trial: Murder accused 'made threat' to parents |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| One of four men accused of murdering missing financial advisor Lynda Spence warned her parents not to go to the police, a court has heard. | One of four men accused of murdering missing financial advisor Lynda Spence warned her parents not to go to the police, a court has heard. |
| Patricia and James Spence told the High Court in Glasgow that Colin Coats came to their home days after their daughter disappeared in April 2011. | Patricia and James Spence told the High Court in Glasgow that Colin Coats came to their home days after their daughter disappeared in April 2011. |
| He is alleged to have warned them off contacting the police after he told them their daughter owed him £10,000. | He is alleged to have warned them off contacting the police after he told them their daughter owed him £10,000. |
| Mr Coats, David Parker, Paul Smith and Philip Wade deny murder. | Mr Coats, David Parker, Paul Smith and Philip Wade deny murder. |
| The four men are charged with abducting, torturing and murdering Ms Spence at a flat in West Kilbride in April 2011. | The four men are charged with abducting, torturing and murdering Ms Spence at a flat in West Kilbride in April 2011. |
| The court heard that Mr Coats went to Ms Spence's parents' home with Tony Kelly - a former colleague of the missing financial advisor. | |
| Mr Spence said that Mr Coats had already told them that his daughter owed him £10,000 and had pawned two of his watches. | Mr Spence said that Mr Coats had already told them that his daughter owed him £10,000 and had pawned two of his watches. |
| 'UDA people' | 'UDA people' |
| The accused is also said to have claimed that she had allegedly given £200,000 to another man, John Glen. | The accused is also said to have claimed that she had allegedly given £200,000 to another man, John Glen. |
| Mr Spence said that he asked Mr Coats if he knew where his daughter was and he said he did not know. | Mr Spence said that he asked Mr Coats if he knew where his daughter was and he said he did not know. |
| He added: "My wife said: 'If she has stolen your money I'm going to report you to the police, she had no right stealing money'." | He added: "My wife said: 'If she has stolen your money I'm going to report you to the police, she had no right stealing money'." |
| Mr Spence was asked what Mr Coats' reaction was and replied: "His reaction was to jump up and bang the couch and he said: 'If the polis look into my computer I'll get years and don't forget I've got UDA people and London people.'" | |
| Mr Spence, 68, also told the court of his last phone call with his daughter, which took place on 20 April - almost a week after she went missing. | Mr Spence, 68, also told the court of his last phone call with his daughter, which took place on 20 April - almost a week after she went missing. |
| He told solicitor General Lesley Thomson QC, prosecuting, that he and his wife were on their way to Morrisons supermarket in Partick, Glasgow, when the phone rang. | |
| He said it was his daughter, whom he and his wife refer to as "the wean". | |
| Mr Spence told the jury: "My wife got very upset and I had to get the phone off her. She asked where we were and I said: 'Just outside Morrisons." | Mr Spence told the jury: "My wife got very upset and I had to get the phone off her. She asked where we were and I said: 'Just outside Morrisons." |
| "I asked where are you and she said: 'I'm in the Edgeware Road. She seemed normal." | "I asked where are you and she said: 'I'm in the Edgeware Road. She seemed normal." |
| Mr Spence was asked by Ms Thomson: "Were you reassured by this," and he replied: "No because she wouldn't tell me where she was in Edgeware Road, or an address or anything." | Mr Spence was asked by Ms Thomson: "Were you reassured by this," and he replied: "No because she wouldn't tell me where she was in Edgeware Road, or an address or anything." |
| Missing phone | Missing phone |
| He said that after this call he and his wife had no contact with Ms Spence by phone or text. | He said that after this call he and his wife had no contact with Ms Spence by phone or text. |
| Earlier his wife Patricia, 56, broke down in tears after revealing that she received a phone call from one of Ms Spence's phones on 2 June 2011. | Earlier his wife Patricia, 56, broke down in tears after revealing that she received a phone call from one of Ms Spence's phones on 2 June 2011. |
| She said: "I got a phone call from a lady. She said: 'I'm calling mum. I've found this phone.' | She said: "I got a phone call from a lady. She said: 'I'm calling mum. I've found this phone.' |
| "I said have you seen my daughter. Is she there." | "I said have you seen my daughter. Is she there." |
| The court heard that the phone was found in a bin at a cafe in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, and was taken to the police by the woman who found it. | The court heard that the phone was found in a bin at a cafe in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, and was taken to the police by the woman who found it. |
| Mrs Spence said that she and her husband immediately went to the police station and told them all they knew about Mr Coats and their daughter's business dealings. | Mrs Spence said that she and her husband immediately went to the police station and told them all they knew about Mr Coats and their daughter's business dealings. |
| She claimed in court that Mr Coats told her that Ms Spence was "a scumbag" and branded him "a bully". | She claimed in court that Mr Coats told her that Ms Spence was "a scumbag" and branded him "a bully". |
| 'London boys' | 'London boys' |
| Under cross-examination by Derek Ogg QC, representing Mr Coats, Mrs Spence was asked: "I'm interested in your husband's connections with criminals," and she replied: "He doesn't have connections. He doesn't have anything like gangster connections." | Under cross-examination by Derek Ogg QC, representing Mr Coats, Mrs Spence was asked: "I'm interested in your husband's connections with criminals," and she replied: "He doesn't have connections. He doesn't have anything like gangster connections." |
| Mrs Spence was then asked why she had never told the Solicitor General, the procurator fiscal or the police about Mr Coats referring to "the London boys" and she replied: "Maybe I'm getting mixed up." | Mrs Spence was then asked why she had never told the Solicitor General, the procurator fiscal or the police about Mr Coats referring to "the London boys" and she replied: "Maybe I'm getting mixed up." |
| But she said that Mr Coats told her and her husband not to call the police and added: "He told us not to, warned us not to go to the police." | But she said that Mr Coats told her and her husband not to call the police and added: "He told us not to, warned us not to go to the police." |
| Mrs Spence said that even when they reported their daughter missing they did not tell the police everything. | Mrs Spence said that even when they reported their daughter missing they did not tell the police everything. |
| It was only after her phone was found they mentioned Mr Coats. | It was only after her phone was found they mentioned Mr Coats. |
| The trial before judge Lord Pentland continues. | The trial before judge Lord Pentland continues. |