Margaret Fleming: Murder accused denies harming her

Edward Cairney was one of Ms Fleming's carers

The man accused of murdering Margaret Fleming has told a jury he never harmed her.

Edward Cairney, 77, was giving evidence as the defence opened its case.

He also said it was "tripe" that he told police that the case would "end up in a murder charge".

Mr Cairney and his co-accused Avril Jones deny murdering her by means unknown between 18 December 1999 and 5 January 2000 at Seacroft in Inverkip, Inverclyde, or elsewhere in Scotland.

The couple had been Ms Fleming's carers since her father died in October 1995.

Mr Cairney told jurors at the High Court in Glasgow he believed "a girl's place was with her mum" but said Ms Fleming wanted to stay with him and Ms Jones.

The last confirmed sighting of the 19-year-old was on 17 December 1999.

Travelling community

The retired marine engineer told the court that Ms Fleming went missing in early 2000.

"This was the first time she had gone and not come back after several hours," he said.

He said the couple believed Ms Fleming had gone to London with a woman associated with local travellers.

But he said she always came back to Inverkip for money.

He said he once bought a £20,000 van for Ms Fleming and reported a house-breaker she had "befriended".

He told the court he had been with Ms Fleming on 28 October 2016, the day police arrived at Seacroft.

Margaret Fleming was last seen when she was 19

But he claimed she fled out of the back door when she heard the officers.

"Margaret got highly upset," he said. "I was saying 'the police are not here for you' - but she was sure of it."

He said officers were already in the kitchen.

"At first, I did not understand the gravity of what was going on," he told the court. "I went back into the kitchen to get Margaret, but I knew she would be gone.

"They were screaming: 'Where is Margaret Fleming?'"

The OAP said he told officers Margaret was "away" and tried to tell them where she may have gone.

But, he claimed: "It was like talking to zombies."

Asked if he recalled saying: "This is going to end up in a murder charge", he replied: "No - it's tripe."

The court heard claims that Mr Cairney met Ms Fleming in London in 2017.

A major search of the house in Inverkip was carried out by police

He said he told her police were looking for her and that they were "holding us to ransom".

He insisted that was the last he saw Ms Fleming and was later detained by police.

Mr Cairney said the last contact he had with her was in October 2017 and he had no idea where she was now.

Asked by Thomas Ross QC if he had ever harmed Ms Fleming, Mr Cairney replied: "No, I certainly have not. I am incapable of harming a kid or a lady."

Jurors heard again about interviews Mr Cairney gave to journalist Russell Findlay and BBC Scotland reporter Suzanne Allan before he was held.

Among several claims, he said Ms Fleming had became a "gangmaster" and was also "buying and selling" drugs.

He told the court he was telling the truth in the interviews.

Burning flesh

He was also asked about claims made by ex-fireman Paul Neeson during the trial that he once smelled burning human flesh from a bonfire at Mr Cairney's home.

Mr Cairney replied: "Was the guy not totally discredited...a nutcase."

Iain McSporran QC, for the prosecution, put it to Mr Cairney that he did not see Margaret Fleming in London in October 2017 as she was dead.

Mr Cairney replied: "No, you are wrong. Margaret Fleming is still alive and it is very, very vicious of you to suggest otherwise."

Mr McSporran continued: "You killed her and spent years telling lie after lie."

The witness answered: "Could you tell me the basis of that?"

The QC said: "You lied to cover up the most dreadful crime of murder."

Mr Cairney said: "Nonsense. Absolute nonsense."

The exchange followed a tense period of cross-examination during which Mr Cairney was told off by the judge for calling Mr McSporran a "clown".

He also told jurors that he had not been friends with Margaret's father, Derek Fleming.

He said: "Derek wasn't a friend of mine, he was a louse. I didn't take the louse, I took up the daughter."

Charges withdrawn

His co-accused Ms Jones also denies defrauding Ms Fleming of £182,000 in benefits between 18 December 1999 and 26 October 2017.

Last week, prosecutors withdrew a number of charges against the couple, including that Mr Cairney defrauded Ms Fleming of the benefits.

Charges dropped against both accused included abducting and assaulting Ms Fleming by locking her in a room, cutting her hair and binding her arms and wrists with tape on various occasions between 1 November 1997 and 5 January 2000.

A charge that the couple attempted to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of Ms Fleming's personal effects and pretending she was alive was also dropped.

A major police investigation was sparked on 28 October 2016 after a benefits claim submitted by Ms Jones on Ms Fleming's behalf raised concerns about her wellbeing.

The trial before Lord Matthews continues.