Man accused of raping and murdering mum-of-two in her home

A man accused of raping and murdering a mum-of-two in her home claimed he was told about her death by another person.

David Hose, 30, allegedly killed Kirsty Robertson, 29, at the house in Ayr, South Ayrshire, on October 20, 2019.

Hose denies the charge and is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

He is further charged with raping two other women in 2017 and 2018 at separate properties in Ayr.

Hose and Ms Robertson’s friend, Shona Harbison, 36, told jurors on Monday that they were all drinking together on the night of the death.

Ms Harbison stated Hose was to stay the night to help look after Ms Robertson’s children in the morning.

Ms Harbison claimed when she left around 1.30am, Ms Robertson was lying on the couch.

Prosecutor Lynsey MacDonald asked how Ms Robertson was, and the witness replied: “She was passed out but when I told her I was leaving she never answered.

“I spoke and shoogled her shoulder to see if she would wake up.”

Ms MacDonald asked if Ms Robertson reacted in any way, and she replied: “No.”

Ms Harbison stated that she was later woken up by Hose at 12.30pm at her own house.

She said: “He told me that Kirsty was dead and I didn’t believe him. I was trying to take it in and understand as I saw her a couple of hours ago and she was fine.”

Ms MacDonald asked if she questioned Hose about how he found out Ms Robertson had died.

She replied: “He said some girl called Vicky had said to him.

“I said I thought you were staying at Kirsty’s to help her, and he said he couldn’t get to sleep on the single chair in the living room.”

John Scullion QC, defending, put it to Ms Harbison that Hose claimed he was told Ms Robertson had been found by her daughter that morning.

She replied: “He said a neighbour had turned up to take Kirsty to Kilmarnock for a bike for her daughter. He said the girl was told to wake up her mum.”

Ms Robertson’s neighbour, Caroline Hall, 35, earlier stated in evidence how she found Ms Robertson’s naked body face down on the couch.

The student nurse stated: “I went to the door and shouted Kirsty. I never got an answer so I went to the couch to rouse her.”

Ms MacDonald asked: “What did you find when you touched her shoulder?”

The witness replied: “She was cold, very cold and I knew straight away that she was [dead].”

The rape and murder charge includes claims Ms Robertson was intoxicated, unconscious and incapable of giving or withholding consent.

It is also alleged Hose left her face down on a couch and her breathing became restricted.

The trial, before Judge Simon Collins, continues.