Witness 'saw men stamp her partner to death'

Friday 5 October 2012

A WOMAN has told a court she watched from her window as two men kicked and stamped her partner to death as if "breaking up furniture".

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Campbell Thomas

Anne Marie Newlands, 48, was giving evidence at the trial of Asif Rehman, 20, and Adel Ishaq, 19, who deny the racially aggravated murder of William McKeeney, 57, by repeatedly punching, kicking, stamping and jumping on his head and body.

Miss Newlands told the High Court in Kilmarnock she had been waiting for Mr McKeeney to come home when she grew concerned about the Asian men's behaviour.She said: "I was looking out for Willie, but the second time I looked out I thought they were breaking up a piece of furniture in the street. They were kicking and stamping on something and they were both doing it."I decided I would phone Willie and tell him to watch out because there were two boys and I didn't like the look of them."The alleged killing took place yards from the couple's home in Pollokshields, Glasgow, on January 15.Miss Newlands said the shorter of the pair stood back and said something to the "very tall" man, who stamped six or eight more times before they both "sauntered around the corner".She stood on a trunk to get a better view of the object on the ground then realised it was a person.Breaking down while giving evidence, Miss Newlands said: "I ran outside and saw it was Willie. He was very battered and one side of his face was all swollen and his eye was closed. I thought his teeth had come through his top lip."The court earlier heard Mr McKeeney, a labourer originally from Donegal in Ireland, had visited two local pubs before phoning Miss Newlands to tell her he was on his way home with a fish supper.Advocate depute Tim Niven-Smith, prosecuting, said: "You realised it was Willie, your partner of 12 years, on the ground. How was he?" Miss Newlands replied: "He was on his back. I was panicking because no-one else was there. I tried to speak to him but realised he was not responding, so I phoned 999."The court heard a recording of the emergency call, with the controller repeatedly asking a weeping Miss Newlands for her location and Mr McKeeney's condition.As Miss Newlands carried out mouth-to-mouth resuscitation the controller was heard to tell her: "You're doing really well. Stay strong for him." Police then arrive.Miss Newlands went with Mr McKeeney in an ambulance to Victoria Infirmary. She was later told he had died.She told a policeman who accompanied her: "I think the tall guy lives in Darnley Street. I've seen him before."Miss Newlands later picked out Rehman at an identity parade.Rehman and Ishaq, prisoners at Polmont Young Offenders Institution, deny the racially aggravated murder of Mr McKeeney and showing previous malice and ill-will towards him. Ishaq denies attempting to defeat the ends of justice by giving clothing and footwear to Umar Bhatti, who allegedly burned and destroyed them, and attempting to induce Bashir Ahmed to give him £500 so he could flee Glasgow.Rehman also denies attempting to defeat justice by changing out of clothes he was wearing at the time. He also denies possessing cannabis and diazepam.Ishaq further denies acting in a manner likely to cause fear and alarm by using abusive and threatening language towards Ian Little in Pollokshields the day before the alleged attack. He also denies possessing diazepam. The trial continues.

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Witness 'saw men stamp her partner to death'

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