Murder accused 'couldn't sleep worrying about Emma Faulds'

A man accused of murdering Emma Faulds told police he could not sleep as he was so concerned about her, a court has heard.

On Thursday, the High Court in Glasgow heard Ross Willox was quizzed by PC Stuart Mulholland.

This was after the 39 year-old youth worker had been reported missing.

Donald Findlay QC, defending, put to the officer: “He said he was worried about Emma?”

The witness replied: “Correct.”

The constable was then questioned about the remark by prosecutor Paul Kearney.

Mr Kearney put to him: “He said he had been worried about Emma to the extent he could not sleep and had gone to a friend’s house – is that right?”

The constable: “Yes.”

Mr Kearney: “Did you make any inquiries if this was true or not?”

The policeman said he did not.

Willox, 41, denies murdering Ms Faulds at his home in Fairfield Park, Monkton, Ayrshire, on April 28, 2019, by means unknown.

She was reported missing on April 30, 2019, by her parents after she failed to turn up for work.

Constable Mulholland told the court that he and a colleague went to Ms Faulds’ flat in Fullerton Street, Kilmarnock, around 11.30pm that day.

He said they searched her home and added: “We went into various rooms and in a chest of drawers we found a clear bag of white powder. It tested positive for cocaine.”

The police officer said he also had a quick look in the loft area and added: “It appeared to me it had not been lifted for a good amount of time. There were cobwebs and dirt.”

The jury was told that Constable Mulholland and his colleague then went to Willox home at 2am after phoning him to say they were coming.

The officer said: “There was no-one home, but Mr Willox arrived after a couple of minutes. He told us he had been at a friend’s house because he couldn’t sleep.”

The jury heard that Willox was asked about his movements of April 29 and 30, 2019.

Constable Mulholland said: “He said Emma Faulds arrived at his house around teatime and they were drinking and taking cocaine.

“They made their way to Kilmarnock around midnight in Emma’s car. He said Emma was driving her car.”

Mr Kearney asked if Willox said anything about a drugs delivery that night for Ms Faulds and the constable replied: “Yes. He said she had organised a delivery of drugs about 9.30am by texting someone called Scouser using her phone.”

Constable Mulholland said that Willox told him he left Ms Faulds’ flat on Monday, April 29 in the morning and walked to the town centre where he got a taxi.

Mr Kearney asked: “Did he explain why Emma’s car was seen being driven in Fullerton Street, Kilmarnock around 7.30am on Monday, April 29,” and he replied: “No.”

An ex-workmate of Willox earlier told the court that he sometimes drove through Glentrool Forest on his way home from work.

This was where Ms Faulds’ body was found on June 12 2019.

David Jaffrey, 52, who is a safety inspector for wind turbines, said he and Willox worked together on a wind farm down in Dumfries and Galloway.

He said that they would drive down there together in a company 4×4 and said that he would drive down and Willox would drive back home.

Mr Jaffrey was asked what way they would return home and said: “There were a number of ways. There was a short way through Barrmill.”

Mr Kearney then said: “What other ways did you go home,” and the witness replied: “We also went the Glentrool Road.”

He said at the end of the road you could go left to Girvan and right to Straiton.

Willox denies all the charges against him.

The trial before judge Lord Mulholland continues.