Court papers from 1977 alleged that Christopher Harrisson threatened his wife’s life just months before her death.
Brenda Page made the claim in a legal action to stop her husband seeing her.
Shortly after the geneticist was found slain at her Allan Street flat, the Evening Express obtained the details of the interdict raised at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, however, the full extent of the allegation was only made public in 2004.
She had divorced Harrisson, with whom she had also worked, around nine months before her death on the grounds of his “unreasonable behaviour.”
The interdict was raised by Brenda shortly after the divorce.
Harrisson, who was banned from university premises after his research fellowship was not renewed, did not defend the action.
The court papers, originally unearthed by then Evening Express reporter Vivienne Nicoll, show it was alleged that on or about the day his wife was granted a divorce – October 27, 1977 – Harrisson visited her flat and threatened her life.
Brenda also claimed that throughout the whole of their marriage, he was aggressive and threatening and used violence towards her.
“This put another intriguing slant on what was already a sensational story,” explained Miss Nicoll in 2004.
“One of Aberdeen’s top and most respected scientists had been murdered in her own bed. To find out that she claimed she had suffered torment at the hands of her husband presented another side to the serious well-respected woman who was regarded by her peers as one of the best in her profession.”
Damning court papers
The interdict lists four specific alleged incidents.
One, said to have taken place around a year before her death, claims he came to her lab, where she had prepared a demonstration for an open evening, hurled abuse and threatened her in front of visitors, refusing to leave when requested.
In the second, he is said to have called at her home around 6pm on or about the day of their divorce, been let in by Brenda but hurled abuse at her.
This is the incident in which she alleged he made a threat to her life and also threw crockery about and poured tea down the kitchen curtains.
Then it is claimed that a month later, in November 1977, he again called at her flat, was abusive, threatened her with physical violence and turned up at her lab the following day, despite being banned from all university premises.
At the time, his solicitor David Burnside said it was his understanding that the couple had “remained on friendly terms” and after the interdict was obtained Brenda saw Harrisson on a number of occasions “of her own free will.”
The couple had lived apart for the last two years of their five-year marriage. Brenda moved to Allan Street after leaving their home in Mile-End Place, returning to feed her cats.
Family and friends claim there were disputes and squabbles almost from the outset. And after just three years, she moved out.
Her sister Rita Ling said: “Outwardly she gave the impression that everything was fine but after a while, we knew things weren’t as happy as they could have been.
“I only know from hearsay that things had been a bit violent but I didn’t witness anything of that at all, only what she told mother.”
According to Brenda’s best friend and colleague Jessie Watt, Harrisson followed his wife everywhere and constantly checked on her by phone.
“In many ways, he was the complete opposite of Brenda,” she said. “He struck me as an absent-minded professor type. He was very eccentric. He did not mix well.”
Rita said Brenda didn’t quite know how to deal with her husband’s moods.
“She would often say she didn’t know what she’d done wrong,” said the sister.
