Police officer found Hawick man 'covered in blood'

Pc Kay told the court how she found Mr McColm lying on the floor covered in blood

A police officer has told a murder trial how she found a Hawick man in his home "covered in blood".

Pc Suzanne Kay, 48, said Christopher McColm, 41, was lying on the floor of his Beattie Court flat asking for help.

She told the High Court in Edinburgh his right eye was badly swollen with blood over his teeth and mouth and bruising on his back.

Aleksandr Podgornoi, 25, and Vladimir Jakovlev, 24, both deny murdering Mr McColm, claiming self-defence.

The court heard how Pc Kay was called out to the Hawick property in April this year and found Mr McColm lying on his back.

"His face was covered in blood, his right eye was very badly swollen and his teeth and mouth were covered in blood," she said.

"I saw some bruising on his back because Chris had tried to roll onto his side and his T-shirt had come up.

"He said 'help me, help me, I'm struggling'."

The court was also told Mr McColm's wrists appeared to be bound by a top and he was unable to move his arms independently.

Pc Kay added that when he spoke a gurgling sound came from his throat.

Special defence

Advocate depute Bruce Erroch asked her if she had tried to discover how Mr McColm came about his injuries.

She replied: "I asked him several times who has done this to you?

"He would either say I don't know or he wouldn't say anything at all."

Two men deny breaking into Mr McColm's property and murdering him on 2 April this year.

Mr Podgornoi also faces a second charge of assault on Andrew Nichols the same day at a Morrisons Supermarket in Hawick.

Both men deny the charges against them and a special defence of self-defence has been lodged.

The trial continues.