Two deny strangling woman and dumping body at sea

TWO men have gone on trial accused of murdering a woman who they feared was going to report them for allegedly sexually abusing a boy.

William Lauchlan, 33, and Charles O'Neill, 47, are alleged to have strangled Allison McGarrigle in Largs, Ayrshire, more than 12 years ago and then disposed of her body in the sea.

A jury was sworn in at the High Court in Glasgow, where the pair denied abducting and murdering the 40-year-old on 21 June, 1997.

The charge against the men alleges that they engaged in criminal sexual activity with a boy for four years previously and that they killed Ms McGarrigle, "believing that she intended to report such activity to the authorities".

The Crown alleges that the men seized Ms McGarrigle's neck, compressed her throat and then took her body to Largs beach, put it into a container and dumped it from a boat at sea.

The men deny the charges of murder and of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

O'Neill has lodged a special defence of incrimination, saying that if a murder was committed, it was carried out by another man.

O'Neill is also charged with assaulting a motorist, Elaine Mullan, on 15 August, 1996, and repeatedly stopping in front of the car in which she was travelling with Ms McGarrigle or, alternatively, of culpably and recklessly driving a car and stopping in front of Ms Mullan on the same date.

O'Neill denies the charge.

The case is being heard by Lord Pentland.

Ms McGarrigle's husband of 20 years, Robert McGarrigle, reported her missing on 23 February, 1998, the court later heard.

A police inquiry was launched, but the body of the mother of three from Rothesay, on Bute, has never been found.

The trial continues today.