A woman admitted yesterday killing a businessman who was found stabbed to death in Aberdeen city centre.
Julie Carroll, who was charged with the murder of Alan Bennett, 56, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of culpable homicide at the High Court in Aberdeen.
Both she and Paul Balgowan have been on trial for murdering the stockbroker, after allegedly luring him into Oldmill Road with the promise of sex on May 30 last year.
Yesterday, her defence agent Donald McLeod QC, announced to the court that she had changed her plea.
The pair, both 24, were also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and conspiracy to rob and assault other men over a 10-month period.
Carroll, who previously denied all of the charges, was acquitted of the other offences after her plea was accepted by the Crown. The court also heard yesterday that the pair did not call an ambulance after the alleged attack, even though they believed Mr Bennett was dying.
Detective Constable James Anderson said he was told this by Barry Balgowan, brother of the accused, when taking a statement from him at Queen Street police station, Aberdeen, on May 31 last year. Mr Balgowan went on record as saying: “Paul said he could see that the guy was dying. I went mental when I asked if they had called an ambulance and they said no.”
Earlier in the day the court had heard that Balgowan agreed to “take the rap” for the killing after a robbery went wrong. Barry Balgowan said during cross-examination that his brother told him this about eight months after Mr Bennett’s death.
The 28-year-old said he was told that it was prostitute Carroll who stabbed Mr Bennett multiple times.
He said: “When I went to visit him in prison, I asked him to tell me the truth. He told me he was fighting with the guy and the knife fell on to the ground.
“He said Julie stabbed the guy six times. He said he would take the rap.”
Advocate depute Iain McSporran asked Mr Balgowan if he knew what the truth was.
He replied: “I don’t have a clue what the truth is. There are two parts to play in this, that’s all I know.”
A pathologist told the court on Monday that Mr Bennett, from Cove, died after his heart was pierced by a blade.
Carroll was remanded in custody by Lord Matthews and will be sentenced at a later date.
The trial of Balgowan, who still faces all of the charges, which he denies, will continue today.