Murder trial begins at Glasgow High Court 7/5/13
By Ashlie McAnally
The first day of the trial of two Lewis men accused of murdering 16-year-old Liam
Aitchison has heard from his former girlfriend.
Giving evidence, Ellen Maclennan said that Liam had been her boyfriend for about
a month.
The 17-year-old of Lewis reported him missing after he was not seen for a number
of days.
Jonathan Mackinnon, 22, and Stefan Millar, 22, are on trial at the High Court in
Glasgow accused of murdering Liam Aitchison on Lewis on November 23, 2011. Millar
and Mackinnon deny murdering the teenager.
Ellen Maclennan said that Liam had been staying at her sister's Pemma’s house in
Stornoway. Ms Maclennan said she left there at 7.30pm on 22 November to get a bus
home to her mother's.
Prosecutor Iain McSporran asked: “Did you see him again?” and she replied: “No.”
The witness said that five days later she went to the police station to report Liam
missing.
When asked why she had taken so long to report him missing she said that he was expected
to appear in Stornoway Sheriff Court the day after she last saw him and thought that
he might have been detained in custody.
Ms Maclennan was asked by the prosecutor about a police statement she gave.
She had told police that Millar had said he left Liam in a ditch because he was “rolling
about and being an idiot.”
Ms Maclennan was asked if anyone mentioned Liam ending up in a ditch and if there
was any discussion with Millar about this and she replied: “I can't remember.”
She was taken to a police statement she gave in December 2011 and confirmed she would
have done her best to tell the truth.
The court heard she told officers: “I was speaking to Stefan about it. I asked Stefan
why he left Liam in a ditch.”
Mr McSporran asked: “From what you have already told us had you heard about this
ditch business from someone else?”
The witness replied: “Yes.”
Mr McSporran put to her: “In your statement, it goes on to say 'Stefan said 'Because
he was rolling about and being an idiot'.' Do you remember that?”
Ms Maclennan replied: “Yes.”
Under cross examination by Frances McMenamin QC she agreed this was not what happened
and that Liam was “rolling about the road.”
Mrs McMenamin asked: “Would it be right in saying Stefan Millar's response was 'we
never left Liam in a ditch, he was rolling about the road?'”
Ms Maclennan replied: “Yes.”
Mrs McMenamin asked: “Is that how the conversation went?” and she replied: “Yes.”