Two women and teenager accused of murdering man at his home

Murder trial: Andrew Oates was found dead in 2010.Newsline Scotland

Two women and a teenager have appeared in court accused of murdering a man in Peterhead.

Christopher Hollinsworth, 19, Natalie Hollinsworth, 22, and Sharon Hollinsworth, 44, are accused of conspiring with each other to kill Andrew Oates.

At the High Court in Aberdeen it is claimed they assaulted the 44-year-old by striking him on the head and body with a hammer or similar instrument after conspiring to murder him.

Christopher Hollinsworth, of Newcastle, is said to have attempted to obtain a firearm and discussed a method of murder in a text message. Natalie Hollinsworth, of Balmedie, in Aberdeenshire, is claimed to have researched methods to kill someone on the internet and ways of concealing and disposing of a dead body.

It is further claimed she researched potential defences to murder and the buying of weedkiller and "date-rape" drug rohypnol.

It is alleged that Sharon Hollinsworth, of Peterhead, asked the teenage boy to get a hammer and cable ties and asked Natalie Hollinsworth to get rohypnol.

They accused of killing Mr Oates at his home on the town's Fairwinds Place on October 22, 2010.

They are all said to have bought plastic sheeting, insulation and cable ties from a DIY store for the purposes of covering and securing his body in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice.

The two women are further claimed to have bought digging tools and overalls from a local hardware store the following day. They also allegedly attempted to clean bloodstains from the floors and walls of Mr Oates' home and tie up his body with cable ties, a duvet and plastic sheeting.

It is claimed they attempted to dig a hole in the garden there to hide his remains and failed to alert the authorities to his death.

All three deny murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The trial in front of Lord Doherty continues.

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