POLICE did not want to “disturb” a woman allegedly killed by her sister and daughter despite concerns from a neighbour, a court has heard.
Philip Martin recalled a stench in his home in Troon, Ayrshire, and was worried Sharon Greenop was lying dead next door.
Mr Martin went to the police in November 2016.
But, a jury heard, officers initially left Sharon’s home without seeing her after being told she was ill.
Mr Martin yesterday said: “I told them I did not think it was good enough.”
He later discovered a police cordon in the area on the day Sharon’s body was found.
The evidence was heard yesterday at the High Court in Glasgow.
Sharon sister’s, Lynnette Greenop, 40, and daughter Shayla Greennop, 20, are accused of murdering the mother at their home in Troon.
It is claimed the 46-year-old was assaulted on various occasions between September 8 and November 10 2016. Mr Martin claimed he last saw Sharon in late June of that year.
He later went on holiday and on his return spoke with Lynnette.
He recalled: “I said: ‘how is Sharon, I have not seen her for some time’.
“Lynnette said: ‘She is not that good. I don’t know what is going on with her. She has taken to her bed’.”
The court earlier heard Sharon was disabled following an accident.
In October 2016, Mr Martin noticed a pungent smell in one of his bedrooms.
He and his brother-in-law tried to find what was causing the odour – including going up into the loft – but “could not locate anything”.
Mr Martin said the stench eventually went through his home.
Prosecutor Ashley Edwards QC asked: “Once the smell started to appear in the rest of the house, did you become more concerned?”
The witness: “Yes – my concern was Sharon was actually dead.”
On November 10, he told his wife: “That’s it, I am going to the police.”
He recalled reporting his concerns about his neighbour, not seeing her for weeks and the smell in his house.
Mr Martin said he later met officers near his home and asked had they visited Sharon.
The trial heard he was told the mother as apparently “not well” and was in her bed.
Mr Martin added: “I asked them had they seen Sharon, but they said they did not want to disturb her if she was not well.
“I told them I did not think it was good enough. I told them about the smell – and they seemed to be unaware of that.
“I asked them to go back. As far as I am aware, that is what they did.”
The murder charge alleges Sharon was repeatedly struck with “object or objects” and had her neck compressed.
The two accused – who both live in Ayr – deny all charges and the trial, before Lady Carmichael, continues.
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