Gun death suspects charged with using girl in plot

A BROTHER and sister accused of the murder of Martyn Barclay are also facing a charge of using a 12-year-old girl to retrieve clothes worn during the shooting.

Caroline Igoe, 32, and Paul Igoe, 37, are on trial for killing the father-of-one, who was gunned down beside his home in Hazelwood Grove in the Inch.

A third accused, Kenneth Carruthers, is accused of burying the gun in the grounds of Craigmillar Castle Park on the day of the shooting.

The first witness in the case was due to take the stand at the High Court in Edinburgh today after the jury, comprising seven men and eight women, was selected and sworn in yesterday afternoon.

Caroline and Paul Igoe deny shooting Mr Barclay in the head with a handgun in the street on 17 January last year, leaving the 26-year-old so badly injured that he died at the Western General Hospital later that day.

The pair have also pleaded not guilty to firearms offences involving possession of the gun at addresses in Edinburgh, including Hazelwood Grove and Walter Scott Avenue in the Inch, as well as Morrison Crescent in Dalry.

They further deny attempting to defeat the ends of justice between 17 January and 7 June last year.

A charge alleges that Paul Igoe tried to dispose of the handgun on the day of the shooting, including attempting to persuade his father, Archibald Hunter, to conceal it.

The following day, the charges state Igoe is accused of handing over a top he wore during the shooting to a woman at her home in Gracemount Drive, inducing her to give him another to wear instead.

Both Caroline Igoe and Paul Igoe are charged with allegedly persuading a 12-year-old girl to go to the address last 21 March to recover the top. The pair are then accused of disposing of it.

Caroline Igoe is alleged to have committed the charges against her while on bail granted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in December 2008.

Carruthers, of Milton Bridge, Penicuik, Midlothian, has denied a charge of possessing the gun on 17 January last year.

Carruthers is charged with knowing the firearm had been used to shoot Mr Barclay, but taking it from Walter Scott Avenue to Craigmillar Castle Park, where he allegedly buried it. He is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice and committing the charges against him while on bail.

Carruthers, who is currently on bail over the alleged offences, is pleading a special defence of incrimination, claiming that if the handgun was buried, it was carried out by Joseph Igoe junior.

The trial, before Lord Bracadale, is expected to last for five weeks.