Police tortured accused to force confession, murder appeal is told

Published on Thursday 11 September 2008 22:58

A MAN who says police held his head underwater while questioning him about a murder made no such allegation at his trial 35 years ago, appeal judges heard yesterday.

George Beattie has been trying to clear his name since he was jailed for the murder of a typist in woods near his then home in Carluke, Lanarkshire.

Margaret McLaughin, 23, was stabbed 19 times in an attack as she headed to catch a train to Glasgow in July 1973. Beattie was convicted later that year.

At the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh, psychologist Professor Gisli Gudjonsson has explained how some suspects come to give false information.

Yesterday, he was questioned by advocate depute Brian McConnachie, QC, for the Crown, which says the guilty verdict should stand.

Mr McConnachie pointed out that when Beattie, now 54, stood trial, his lawyers made no accusations that police had bullied him into making statements.

Beattie, who served almost 15 years of a life sentence, now claims he was deprived of sleep, kicked and punched, and his head was held in a sink of cold water. The hearing continues.