Man on trial over murder of journalist

Published on 20/11/2012 12:00

A MAN has gone on trial accused of murdering an Australian journalist who died after being knifed in the chest.

Thomas Allwood was attacked in Broxburn on June 21 and a jury at the High Court at Livingston heard that the cause of death was a single stab wound.

Kyle Montgomery, 24, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Allwood, 55. Montgomery, from Winchburgh, denies assaulting the deceased, repeatedly punching him on the head and body, pursuing him with a knife and striking him on the body with a knife.

Mr Allwood was found lying in Pyothall Road, near Clarkson Road, at about 4.45am.

June Douglas, 44, who lives next door to Montgomery’s father, Robert, told the court that the neighbouring house was “used like a drinking den”.

Christopher McDonald, 31, who was living with Ms Douglas, told the court that he was startled by loud noise at around 3.15am on June 21. He said: “The whole house shook.”

Barmaid Lisa Feenan, 30, said the accused’s father had left the Badger’s Brook pub in Broxburn just after 10pm on June 20 with a man she knew only as “The Australian”.

The trial continues.