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Judge throws out World's End case Judge throws out World's End case
(20 minutes later)
The trial of a convicted killer and sex offender accused of the World's End murders in Edinburgh has collapsed. The trial of a convicted killer and sex offender who was accused of murdering two young women in Edinburgh 30 years ago has collapsed.
Angus Sinclair had denied attacking and killing Christine Eadie and Helen Scott, who were both aged 17. Angus Sinclair had denied attacking and killing 17-year-olds Christine Eadie and Helen Scott in what became known as the World's End murder case.
The girls were last seen in the World's End pub in the city and their bodies were found in separate places in East Lothian in October 1977. The girls were last seen in the World's End pub in the city and their bodies dumped in East Lothian in October 1977.
Judge Lord Clarke upheld a defence motion that there was insufficient to convict Sinclair. Judge Lord Clarke said the Crown had insufficient evidence to proceed.
Sinclair is serving life sentence in Peterhead Prison for killing 17-year-old Mary Gallagher in November 1978. Sinclair has been serving life sentence in Peterhead Prison for killing 17-year-old Mary Gallagher in November 1978.
He lodged a special defence incriminating his brother-in-law Gordon Hamilton, who is dead. He lodged a special defence at the World's End trial, incriminating his brother-in-law Gordon Hamilton, who is dead.
Ms Eadie was found, naked, at Gosford Bay, East Lothian, on 16 October, 1977.
Partly clothed
Her hands were bound behind her back, she had been strangled with a pair of tights and she had been gagged.
Ms Scott's partly clothed body was found a few miles away in a field by the Huntingdon to Coates road, near Haddington. She had also been tied up and strangled.
After 10 days of evidence, Sinclair's defence team lodged a submission on Friday that there was no case to answer.
Dismissing the case at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Clarke said: "I am of the view that the evidence taken at its highest in context of a whole is neutral as to whether or not he was involved in acting with force or violence against the girls, there having been some evidence of sexual contact between him and the girls in the 12 hours or so before they were killed.
"The question of timing seems to me to be critical.
"I'm not satisfied what the advocate-depute had to say overcame these difficulties in that respect."