Accused says Lynda set up a safe house

Friday 22 March 2013

MURDER accused Colin Coats has told a jury missing financial adviser Lynda Spence organised a safe house for herself in West Kilbride.

LYNDA SPENCE: Thought she was going to be killed. ACCUSED: Colin Coats denies abducting, torturing and murdering Lynda Spence at a flat in West Kilbride.

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Coats, 42, a father-of-four denies along with co-accused Philip Wade, also 42, abducting, torturing and murdering Ms Spence at a flat at Meadowfoot Road, between April 14 and 28, 2011.

He said: "She felt the threat was imminent. She thought she was going to be killed."

Coats was asked if he had killed Ms Spence and said: "Absolutely not."He described the suggestion he and Wade had detained her in the flat against her will, then cut of her pinkie and thumb and murdered her as "total fiction".Coats was asked by defence QC Derek Ogg : "Look into your conscience. Is there anything about Lynda Spence that you can tell this court, about her whereabouts for example," and he replied: "All I can tell you is I am wrongly accused of murder and other horrific crimes. I am not aware of her whereabouts or whether she is alive or not."He told the High Court in Glasgow yesterday he and Wade followed Ms Spence to the flat on April 14, 2011.Coats claimed in evidence Miss Spence had gone to arrange her stay in the flat a few days earlier, possibly on April 9, 2011, with Paul Smith who was originally charged with murder but has pled to a reduced charge of assaulting her to her severe injury.Coats told Mr Ogg: "I spoke to her after April 9 and she had spoken to Paul Smith about putting her up. It was outside Glasgow and she felt safe there."Coats was asked if Ms Spence had told him she was thinking of going to New York and he replied: "I know she wanted out of Glasgow, but she never said anything about New York."He was asked about threats she received and said: "These threats were being issued from Andy Cairns through John Glen."Mr Ogg asked: "Is Andy Cairns a man you would take seriously if a threat were to be made," and Coats replied: "Yes."The jury has already heard from Mr Glen who admitted sending Ms Spence threatening texts because he claims she cheated him out of £18,000 on a business deal. Coats said he offered to help Ms Spence, whom he described as a business contact and a friend. He added: "I said I would find out if John Glen was a credible threat. She told me he was in the SAS."Mr Ogg asked if Ms Spence was upset on the journey down to West Kilbride. Coats replied: "She was wearing my brown and yellow hoodie. She would wear my clothes when she wasn't wearing business clothing."When asked if she had any luggage with her, Coats said: "She had a black suitcase with wheels on like air crew would use."Coats also told the court he and Ms Spence had "discussed her going to my villa and selling it".Coats was then asked if Ms Spence had passports with her and he replied: "Yes. I saw them. More than two and less than 10."He added she also had some money with her.Coats told the jury he visited Ms Spence every day at the flat until April 26, 2011. He said Wade travelled to West Kilbride with him most days, but was involved in business in the area.The trial, before Lord Pentland, continues.

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Accused says Lynda set up a safe house

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