Brenda Page told her family she was “afraid” to return home to Aberdeen a week before her brutal murder, a court has heard.
The 32-year-old genetic scientist’s 88-year-old sister Rita Ling told a jury Dr Page had told her she was scared of her ex-husband Dr Christopher ‘Kit’ Harrisson, who she worried would still be “pestering her” when she returned from a family visit to Ipswich.
Mrs Ling told the High Court in Aberdeen that Dr Page said Harrisson could be “nice or nasty” and that living with him was “unpredictable” and “like walking on eggshells”.
Giving evidence on the first day of the murder trial, she also claimed that Dr Page believed Harrisson was stalking her.
The 82-year-old has denied killing Brenda at a flat on Allan Street in Aberdeen, more than four decades ago.
He claims that he was at his home when the alleged murder took place.
Brenda sent letter to be opened ‘on event of her death’
Brenda Page returned to her city centre flat on the early morning of July 14 1978 when she was repeatedly struck on the head and body with a blunt implement.
Her battered body was discovered sprawled across her bed days later by her neighbour.
Harrisson denies a total of five charges, including that he forced entry to Dr Page’s property before murdering her.
He also faces further charges of assault, breach of the peace and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
Jurors also heard that Dr Page had sent Mrs Ling a letter to be opened in the event of her death containing her will.
The scientist’s final will and testament, which was drawn up two years before Dr Page’s divorce from Harrisson in April 1975, left all her personal effects to her sister.
Asked by the prosecutor, advocate depute Alex Prentice KC, about the last time Mrs Ling had seen her sister alive, she replied: “It was the weekend before she died”.
“It was at my home in Ipswich as she was staying with us,” she added.
“She had been to a conference which had been very successful and she was in a very good mood.
“But she didn’t want to go home to Aberdeen. She was afraid that her ex-husband would still be pestering her.”
Claims accused threw book and tea at Brenda
Mrs Ling went on to claim that Harrisson had thrown a book at her sister, causing a red mark on her sister’s forehead.
She also said that the Harvard-educated biochemist threw a cup of tea over Dr Page.
During cross-examination, defence advocate Brian McConnachie KC quizzed Mrs Ling on whether she had witnessed her sister being injured by Harrisson.
“No,” she replied.
The trial, before judge Lord Richardson, continues.
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