Daughter tells murder trial police stalled on starting a missing person investigation as her mum previously overstayed during a break in Gran Canaria
| Published date | 29 September 2021 |
| Publication title | Daily Record, The / Sunday Mail: Web Edition Articles (Scotland) |
Alana McGrory, 21, stated that she made the claim about mum Patricia Henry, 46, in January 2018 - two months after she was last seen.
Miss McGrory alleged she was informed that police would not start the inquiry due to Patricia previously overstaying a holiday to Gran Canaria.
George Metcalff, 72, is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow for allegedly killing Patricia at a flat in Girvan, Ayrshire, on November 17, 2017.
Prosecutors claim Metcalff attacked the Patricia, known as Patti, by “means unknown”.
Metcalff - known as Kenny - is also charged with attempting to defeat the ends of justice between the day of the alleged murder and February 22, 2018.
This lists an accusation that he did “conceal and dispose” of Patricia’s body, again by unknown means.
The indictment features a number of other charges including the rape of Paisley woman Patti and a further three women.
Miss McGrory told jurors earlier today that she had known Metcalff from living above him with Patricia before moving out.
She said her mum moved to Girvan after having problems with her neighbours.
Miss McGrory claimed to have only visited Patricia once at her new property in October 2017 - the last time she saw her.
Jurors were shown a screenshot of a message sent between the pair in October 2017.
Patricia sent: “Kenny tried to kill me last night…because I got him to decorate he lost the plot and strangled me for ages.
“I’m blowing him up now, my neck is f***ing killing me, the c***.”
Miss McGrory claimed the last time she heard from her mum was when she was “hysterical” “crying like she hadn’t before” down the phone.
Miss McGrory said further messages she sent to her went unread, with her dad also unable to contact her.
She claimed to have visited Patricia’s flat with a friend on November 15 and 16, 2017.
She said a garden gnome that was placed at the front door had moved by the time of the second visit.
Miss McGrory also claimed that the kitchen door of the property - which she saw through the letterbox - had also changed from open to closed.
Life in Renfrewshire Survey
Miss McGrory stated Metcalff told her he would take her to the property on one occasion but on the day he had already been.
It was later arranged that Miss McGrory’s friend would travel with Metcalff to get Patricia’s cats from the property.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC asked if Miss...
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