Man accused of 'stuffing ex-girlfriend's body in bag' Craig Walker denies seeing her

A man on trial for murdering his ex-partner and putting her body in a sports bag has claimed he did not see her on the day she died, a trial has heard.

Craig Walker, 40, is accused of killing Lauren Wilson, 34, at a flat in Renfrew, Renfrewshire on May 26, 2021.

It is claimed he repeatedly struck and stabbed Sainsbury’s worker Ms Wilson with a knife on the head and body.

The murder charges further states Mr Walker compressed her neck and inflicted blunt force injuries by means unknown.

Mr Walker is then accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice on the same date.

This includes claims he wrapped Ms Wilson in sheets and tape before placing her in large sports bag with the “intention of disposing of her body”.

Mr Walker is also said to have sent messages from his former partner’s phone pretending to be her.

The indictment alleges he did all this to “avoid detection, arrest and prosecution”.

Addresses listed in this charge are the flat where the alleged murder occurred, the Normandy Hotel in Renfrew as well as a house in Paisley, Renfrewshire.

Mr Walker also faces an earlier allegation of having two knives on May 20, 2021.

Ms Wilson’s friend Ashley Brown, 36, told the High Court in Glasgow that she was in phone contact with her that day.

It was claimed Ms Wilson was going to the Beatson hospital with Mr Walker after work.

Ms Wilson and Mr Walker were also stated to have plans to tell his wife about their relationship that day.

The witness said she received no replies to her texts through the day until 6.05pm which read “I f***ed up big time.”

Ms Brown claimed this was surprising, as she would spell the swear word “FCUK like the French Connection brand.”

Ms Brown stated that she was told Ms Wilson was going to go for a walk which the witness found “off”, as she would go for a bath.

The witness claimed that she and friends contacted Mr Walker and asked if he had “seen her today.”

Mr Walker was noted to reply: “No, why? Has something happened?”

Further texts read to jurors showed Mr Walker denying having a hospital appointment or radiotherapy treatment.

Ms Brown claimed to have phoned him after police had made efforts to contact him around 10.50pm.

She stated that Mr Walker’s phone was switched off after the second attempt.

Ms Wilson’s mum told the court that she received “out of character” text messages from her.

Pauline Wilson, 61, claimed she was frightened after Ms Wilson did not pick up her daughter on May 26.

The witness stated that she had her granddaughter overnight while her mother had a busy shift at work.

Ms Wilson’s mother claimed she was asked to keep the girl after picking her up from school, but she refused due to dinner plans with her son.

Ms Wilson’s mother said: “I wasn’t sure what she was going to do, she wasn’t saying what she was wanting to do…I asked what she was doing and she said she was supporting Craig Walker with a hospital appointment.”

She added that her daughter had told her she has “something important” to say to her which was “nothing to worry about.”

Ms Wilson’s mother said: “I knew it was important as she wouldn’t leave her without arrangements like a packed lunch or uniform.

“It was totally out of character – I was worried and getting distressed.”

The witness stated that Ms Wilson had told her that her friend Pamela Hartley, 36, would pick her up for dinner.

Ms Wilson’s mother stated that she did not see sense in her granddaughter going with Pamela so she did not go.

A selection of text messages allegedly between her and her daughter were read to the court.

In one, Ms Wilson said: “It’s okay mum, I’m not doing anything stupid or making an idiot of myself, I just really need your support at this moment.”

Another read: “I have lied to you, I’m sorry, I’m not at hospital at all, I just need some time alone to work things out, I will be back to get her.”

Prosecutor David Dickson asked Ms Wilson’s mother if she had concerns about these texts.

She replied: “Yes, it was just totally out of character for Lauren – I was frightened – it was just not something she would do – she would never leaver daughter ever.”

Another message was then read out stating: “I’m embarrassed mum, this my doing, I have been a total d***.”

Mr Dickson: “Is this something she would say?”

Ms Wilson’s mother: “No, Lauren never even swore at me and would not use that kind of language.”

The witness told jurors that Ms Wilson’s three friends came to her house that night the police were called at 8pm.

Ms Wilson’s mother stated that she found out her daughter had died in the early hours of the morning.

Former Glasgow Airport security officer Ms Hartley told the court that she learned Mr Walker was an air traffic controller.

The witness stated that she did not see Mr Walker at Glasgow Airport.

Ms Hartley claimed that Ms Wilson had told her that she was to be in court on the day of her death surrounding custody of her daughter.

The trial continues tomorrow before Judge Lady Stacey.