'Murder victim sustained multiple stab wounds in attack'

A woman who was found dead in her home had sustained multiple stab wounds, a murder trial has heard.

On Thursday, the High Court in Edinburgh was told that several of the injuries inflicted on Margaret Robertson, 54, could have caused her death on their own.

Pathologist Dr David Sadler said: “There were maybe three or four of the stab wounds that could have been fatal in themselves.”

Ms Robertson, known as Meg, was found dead in her flat with serious injuries that included neck wounds.

Norman Duncan, 42, has denied assaulting and murdering her at her home in Aberdeen’s Promenade Court on September 25, 2019.

It is alleged that he seized hold of her, pulled her, struggled with her, touched her breast, sexually penetrated her and repeatedly stabbed her on the head, neck and body with a knife or similar sharp instrument.

Duncan is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice between September 25 and October 1, 2019.

It is alleged he changed out of and washed bloodstained clothing and trainers, washed or discarded a bloodstained knife or sharp instrument, hid from police and provided false personal details to officers.

He is also alleged to have been in possession of cocaine on September 25, 2019, at the flat in Promenade Court.

Forensic medical examiner Dr Carolyn Rennie, 41, said she examined Duncan on October 2, 2019, at a custody suite in Kittybrewster, Aberdeen.

She said that among her findings she had noted healing wounds to his hands.

The trial before judge Lady Scott continues.