Accused ‘hated Jean Campbell because she hit dog’

A MAN accused of murdering a woman in a park said he hated her because she hit her dog, a court has heard.Paul Ward, 21, is accused of killing Jean Campbell, 53, at Cranhill Park in Glasgow on 13 December, 2013.
Jean Campbell was found dying in a public park by her husband. Picture: PAJean Campbell was found dying in a public park by her husband. Picture: PA
Jean Campbell was found dying in a public park by her husband. Picture: PA

Ward has been deemed unfit to stand trial on mental health grounds and is detained in the State Hospital.

Judge Lord Matthews is to oversee an examination of facts without a jury at the High Court in Glasgow over the next two weeks.

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Yvonne Leyden, 54, a neighbour of Mrs Campbell, told the court yesterday that on two occasions Ward had complained about the way Mrs Campbell treated her dog.

Ms Leyden told advocate depute Alex Prentice QC: “He said: ‘She’s always hitting the dog.’ I told him to mind his own business. She was a small woman and the dog was a bit strong for her.”

She went on: “He also said: ‘How would she like that if I did that to her’.”

When asked about a police statement, Ms Leyden agreed that Ward, referring to Mrs Campbell, said to her: “I hate her and I hate the way she treats the dog.”

She also told the court that Ward had talked about wanting to buy the dog from Mrs Campbell.

Mr Prentice said: “When the police told you that Paul Ward was in the park that night, did you confront him about this?”She replied: “Yes.”

The prosecutor then asked: “What did he say?” She replied: “He said he didn’t want to get the blame.”

Defence QC Donald Findlay showed Ms Leyden a questionnaire she filled in just 48 hours after the death of Mrs Campbell in which she said she never heard anything untoward that night.

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She said that was a mistake, but agreed that when she did tell police about hearing a scream and a dog barking that it happened between 8pm and 10pm rather than 11pm.

Mr Findlay said: “At the time you thought that was the correct time?” She replied: “Yes.”

Mrs Campbell’s husband has also given evidence to the hearing revealing how he found his wife of 35 years dying in the public park.

John Campbell, 56, told Mr Prentice that he came home from a 12-hour night shift at around 7:40am on 14 December, 2013, and found their flat in Bellrock Street, Cranhill, empty but with all the lights on.

The former production manager said he went out looking for his wife Jean and their six-month-old German Shepherd Kia.

He told the court he went towards the park where his wife walked the dog and heard a dog barking.

Mr Campbell said: “When I got to the children’s park the gate was closed and the dog was at the gate. I couldn’t see Jean and I thought she was playing tricks and would leap out from behind a building.

“It was only when I began to scan the area I noticed Jean lying on the ground. I panicked and ran up.

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“Jean was lying for the most part face down. I turned her over. There was some leaves or dirt on her face and I wiped that clear. Her body was still warm. Her legs were freezing.”

He said that she was wearing a black coat and pyjama top and was naked from the waist down. Her pyjama bottoms, socks and one flip-flop were lying beside her.

Mr Campbell said he gave his wife mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and believed she was breathing. He then phoned for the police and an ambulance.

The court heard that the Campbells got Kia in July 2013 and that Mrs Campbell, who walked him when her husband was working night shifts, found him a bit of a handful.

The hearing before judge Lord Matthews continues.

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