Woman 'may have been dead' when murder accused last saw her

A man accused of raping and murdering a mum-of-two claimed she may have been dead the last time he saw her.

David Hose, 30, has been accused of killing Kirsty Robertson, 29, at a 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.

Ms Robertson’s friend Stephanie King, 27, told jurors on Tuesday that she was concerned about her safety after watching a video of her from the night before the alleged murder.

She contacted Hose, who told her that he and friend Shona Harbison had been together.

The court was shown text messages in which Ms King asked Hose what happened.

He replied: “I have no idea, I was forwarded a video of her drinking.”

The court heard there was then a 19-second video forwarded by Hose with the tagline: “Update on Kirsty, she is now unconscious on the floor.”

Hose later stated: “When I left this morning, I thought she was sleeping but maybe she was dead, I don’t know.”

Ms King asked “where was she lying” and Hose replied “on the couch”.

Hose claimed that he got chicken nuggets and then flagged a taxi at a Tesco before heading home to bed.

He then messaged: “I don’t know what the f*** happened after I left, I wish I was there.”

Jurors were told on Monday that Hose informed Ms Harbison the next day that he heard from a woman called Vicky that Ms Robertson had died.

Her body was discovered in the flat by a neighbour.

Forensic toxicologist Denise McKeown, 42, told jurors on Tuesday the alcohol reading in Ms Robertson’s blood was eight times over the drink drive limit.

John Scullion QC, defending, asked if she wouldn’t be surprised if someone died with Ms Robertson’s alcohol reading, and she replied: “Yes.”

Pathologist Dr Julie McAdam, 49, told jurors that she was unable to reach a cause of death.

Prosecutor Lynsey MacDonald asked if the cause of death was unascertained, and Dr McAdam replied “Yes.”

Ms MacDonald asked: “Does that mean you have no idea whatsoever how she died?”

Dr McAdam replied: “It doesn’t mean I have no idea whatsoever, it’s just in this case can’t be certain how she died.”

The trial, before Judge Simon Collins, continues.