Murder trial witness heard: ‘Will I finish him off’

A neighbour of alleged murder victim Thomas Lamb has told a court how she ­telephoned police after hearing a “voice” shout: “Will I ­finish him off?”

Thomas Lamb

Sandra Swannie, 53, told the High Court in Edinburgh she stepped outside her home in the city after hearing “aggressive” shouts coming from the street.

Ms Swannie was giving evidence on the third day of proceedings against Gary Sim, 21, James Watson, 27, and Paul Watson, 29.

They deny murdering Mr Lamb at Restalrig Circus on September 20, 2014. Yesterday, Ms Swannie told the court Mr Lamb lived above her in a tenement there.

She said she heard people shouting outside her house and stepped outside after becoming concerned.

She told the court: “I saw three figures standing on the road.

“When I saw the figure on the ground I heard someone say, ‘Will I finish him off?’

“As soon as I heard the words I ran into the house and phoned the police.”

Prosecutors allege that on September 19 or September 20, 2014, at the Tor pub in Restalrig Road, Mr Sim assaulted Mr Lamb.

It is claimed that Mr Lamb subsequently sustained multiple stab wounds and that the three men murdered him. Mr Sim and Mr Watson are also charged with attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

The trial, before Lord ­McEwan, continues.