Nurse murder trial is under way

Brian Hossack • Published 9 Feb 2010 14:00

THE mother of a man accused of murdering his fiancee told a court her distraught son turned up at her home saying his partner was dead.

John Miller, 46, is charged with killing nurse Elizabeth Ann Duncan by attacking her within his flat in Greenock's Wellington Street.

Mary Miller, 69, told a High Court trial her son turned up at her front door late at night crying and stumbling over his words, saying: "I think Liz is dead. Her nose has turned blue."

She added: "He came into the house and I asked John what was wrong because he was in a terrible state. He said he woke in bed to find Liz on top of him, punching his chest. He said he had put his hands around her neck and threw her off the bed."

The trial, taking place at Greenock Sheriff Court, heard how Miller and Ms Duncan had earlier enjoyed a day at an Arts Guild show before moving on to the Celtic supporters' club in Greenock for a drink.

Miller got a taxi home from the club after his fiancee decided to stay on, before she returned to his flat just before 1am.

Under examination from advocate depute Alison Di Rollo, Mrs Miller added: "John said Liz came home a little before 1am. He said she wasn't wearing her new engagement ring and he asked where she had been and where the ring was. She said the ring was 'away with the fairies' but I found it later at the bottom of her handbag."

Various neighbours told the trial they had often heard arguments between the couple coming from Miller's home. One woman told how she heard raised voices from the flat just before 1am on 28 May last year, the night Elizabeth died.

She added: "I could hear John saying Liz had embarrassed him. He sounded really aggressive and my gut instinct was telling me something was really wrong. I thought about ringing the police but I spoke to my ex-boyfriend and he said not to."

Miller, represented by solicitor Aidan Gallagher and QC Gordon Jackson, denies murdering Elizabeth Ann Duncan by seizing her, pulling her hair and repeatedly striking her head against a hard surface before repeatedly punching and striking her on the head and body.

He is then alleged to have struggled with her, seizing hold of her neck and compressing it with his hands, restricting her breathing by other means unknown.

He is also accused of assaulting Elizabeth on various occasions between 1 January and 26 May last year by seizing her, pushing and throwing her around and punching and kicking her on the head and body.

Miller is also charged with two counts of breach of the peace spanning 1 November 2008 and 28 May last year. He is pleading not guilty to all charges. The trial before Lord Matthews continues.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 09 Feb 10

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