Man to go on trial for Suzanne Pilley murder

A MAN is to go on trial in February accused of murdering book-keeper Suzanne Pilley, who disappeared in Edinburgh in May last year.

David Gilroy is charged with killing Ms Pilley, 38, on May 4 last year in Edinburgh or elsewhere.

Gilroy, 49, also stands accused of trying to cover up the office worker’s death.

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Prosecutors allege he tried to defeat the ends of justice, taking 16 different steps to avoid detection, arrest and prosecution over the alleged murder.

They include allegations that he concealed Ms Pilley’s dead body in the premises of Infrastructure Management Limited in Thistle Street, Edinburgh, and transported it to various locations in Scotland in the boot of a car.

He denies the charges against him.

Gilroy made his first appearance in open court at a hearing before judge Lord Bracadale at the High Court in Glasgow today.

Lord Bracadale set a trial date for February 20 at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Ms Pilley, an office worker from the Stenhouse area of the capital, vanished on her way to work in the city centre.

The murder charge alleges that Gilroy assaulted and injured Ms Pilley by unknown means in Thistle Street, Edinburgh, or elsewhere, resulting in her death.

A further charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice is broken down into a number of different sub-sections.

They include claims that he bought a quantity of air fresheners on May 4 last year and repeatedly visited the basement and garage areas of the Infrastructure Management Limited offices that same day, when he was not required to do so.

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It is alleged that he visited Lochgilphead high school on May 5 when there was no requirement for him to do so, and asked for a quantity of bin bags, which were given to him.

He is accused of trying to cover up injuries to his hands with make-up.

It is also alleged that he repeatedly told police his relationship with Ms Pilley ended in December 2009 when the relationship was still going on.

He also faces five other charges which include an allegation that he assaulted his wife Andrea on various occasions between January 1 2009 and May 18 2010, and that he assaulted a man called Scott Stewardson in Edinburgh on November 9 2009.

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