A woman has told a murder trial how she battled in vain to save a friend who had been stabbed.
Wendy McKinney, 44, was giving evidence at the trial of Robert Stratton, who denies murdering Julie McCash, 43, and David Sorrie, 32, in Drumlanrig Drive on February 26.
Jurors at the High Court in Edinburgh heard that a number of people had gathered in Mid Craigie to comfort Nicola Duffy, whose son Ralphie Smith, 18, had gone missing and later died after falling from cliffs in Arbroath.
It was agreed by both the Crown and Stratton’s lawyers that Ms McCash suffered a single penetrating wound to her chest by a knife held by Stratton, 42, and that Mr Sorrie died form a single penetrating wound to his abdomen.
Stratton has lodged a special defence of self-defence in relation to the deaths.
The trial heard how Ms McKinney and Mr Sorrie had left a nearby house after being told about Ms McCash suffering an injury.
She said Stratton was standing outside on his own with two knives in his hands when they emerged.
Ms McKinney claimed Stratton “lunged” at her with the knives before she was able to reach Ms McCash, who was lying beside a driveway.
She said: “I seen Mr Stratton standing there beside the rocks. He was standing on his own and he had two knives, one in each hand.
“He was swinging them and he made motions towards me and David.
“He lunged forward and I put my foot up to protect myself.
“I stepped back and I caught where Julie was and I ran to Julie.”
She added: “I left Dave Sorrie and I saw him falling off the kerb.
“I pulled her top up, seen the wound. I slapped her face, breathed in her mouth and I put my body across and just kept trying to breathe into her mouth but there was nothing.
“I saw a stab wound above her stomach.”
Earlier, the court had heard from Ms McKinney’s son Darren Wallace, 25. Holding back the tears, Mr Wallace told the jury that he and Ms McCash were outside the home occupied by his aunt and uncle in Drumlanrig Drive just after 5am.
He said that Stratton and partner Lee Kinney, along with others, were in the property at the time.
He and Ms McCash then left due to “abusive” behaviour from Ms Kinney — who lived with Statton in an adjacent house — towards Ms McKinney.
Mr Wallace said: “Me and Julie were standing at the driveway.
“Rab came out of his house and asked, ‘who the **** started on my wife?’
“I seen something, I think it was his right hand, it didn’t look like a knife. I knew he had something but I didn’t ken what.”
Mr Wallace said Stratton then appeared to punch Ms McCash but he soon realised she had been stabbed.
Mr Wallace added: “She said, ‘Darren, he’s stabbed us.’
“She just collapsed on the pavement. I ran to the door and screamed, ‘help, Julie’s been stabbed.’”
Along with two murder charges, Stratton is accused of assaulting Ms Kinney, on various occasions at a property on Drumlanrig Drive. Stratton is further accused of assaulting Ms McKinney by running towards her while brandishing two knives and attempting to strike her on the body with the knives, and of possessing cocaine.
Stratton denies all the charges and has also lodged a special defence of incrimination. The trial before Lord Beckett continues.
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