Claims man held in servitude before being murdered

A man and a woman have been accused of holding a man in servitude for almost two years before murdering him.

Michael Joyce, 33, and Antonia Gunn, 28, allegedly attacked and killed Michael White on 22 April or 23 April last year at an address in Kyle of Lochalsh in the Highlands.

They have also been accused of an offence under human trafficking and exploitation legislation by holding Mr White in servitude from 1 May 2021 and 23 April last year.

Mr Joyce and Ms Gunn pleaded not guilty at the start of their trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

'Blunt force'

Mr Joyce and Ms Gunn face charges accusing them of instructing Mr White to transfer money into their bank accounts to pay for food, and making him drive them to personal appointments.

They are also said to have told him to request money from friends and family for their benefit and enter into legal proceedings over the sale of his property.

It is alleged they disposed of cushions, towels and a T-shirt worn by Mr White and deleted photographs of him from a mobile phone in an effort to remove evidence.

It is claimed Mr White was repeatedly struck causing him blunt force trauma injuries to his head and body.

Mr Joyce and Ms Gunn are accused of pretending they found his body after he committed suicide, and they are alleged to have placed a marriage certificate and photographs of Mr White and his late wife around his body.

They have denied the charges.

The trial before Lady Poole continues.