Murder trial witness says her evidence was not a lie

A WOMAN who said a man accused of murder confessed he had stabbed someone denied yesterday in court that she was lying.

Kerry Gribben, 22, from Johnstone, was giving evidence for the second day at the High Court in Glasgow at the trial of Barry McGrory, 28. McGrory denies murdering soldier Paul McGee, 28, by repeatedly stabbing him at McConnell Street, Lochwinnoch, on 25 October, last year.

His co-accused Ian Wallace – Ms Gribben's boyfriend – denies assaulting Mr McGee.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Thomas Ross, representing McGrory, she was asked: "Is it your evidence that Mr McGrory chose to come in a house and make an admission to murder?" Ms Gribben replied: "He never said he had murdered someone."

Mr Ross then said: "He said he had 'plugged' someone and the man is now dead."

She replied that he did.

Ms Gribben was asked how many times she had met McGrory prior to that night. She said she had met him four or five times.

Mr Ross said: "Are you saying he made a serious admission in front of someone he had only met four or five times?"

She replied: "Yes."

The court was told that initially Wallace was also accused of the murder of Mr McGee, but later the charge against him was reduced to assault.

Ms Gribben was asked if she and Wallace had concocted a story to put the blame on McGrory. She denied this.

Mr Ross said: "Your evidence is a complete tissue of lies."

She replied: "I'm not lying."

Mr Ross continued: "You have been given a story by Wallace and you are going to stick with that."

Ms Gribben said: "No. I'm telling the truth."

McGrory denies murdering Mr McGee, a Scots Guardsman, and had lodged a special defence incriminating Wallace.

The trial continues.