Man, 82, goes on trial accused of killing wife Brenda Page with blunt object in 1978 Aberdeen murder

An 82-year-old man has gone on trial accused of murdering his former wife in Aberdeen more than forty years ago.

Brenda Page was 32 when she was found at her flat in the city’s Allan Street in July 1978.

Christopher Harrisson denies murder, assault, breach of the peace and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

On Tuesday, the High Court in Aberdeen heard from her sister Rita Ling via a remote video link from Ipswich.

Mrs Ling said that she and her younger sister were very close and kept in touch regularly.

She told the court the marriage between Ms Page and Harrison was happy at first, but that Harrisson could be unpredictable, very nice or very nasty.

She told of a mark on Brenda’s forehead from a book Harrisson had thrown at her and of another occasion when new curtains she had made herself were ruined when he threw a cup of tea at her.

When questioned by Harrisson’s senior counsel Brian MacComnachie KC about a second job Ms Page was considering as an escort, Mrs Ling said not to be so stupid as it was associated with prostitution, her sister told her it was nothing of the kind.

Ms Page, a genetic scientist, was working at Aberdeen University at the time of her death. The court heard she married Harrison after meeting in Glasgow but began divorce proceedings in 1976.

Ms Page is alleged to have been repeatedly struck by Harrisson with a blunt implement or implements, after he forced entry into her Allan Street flat on July 14, 1978, causing blunt force injuries to her head and body.

In a minute of agreed evidence the jury was told Ms Page was found in her nightdress lying on her bed, covered in blood and lifeless, she has suffered multiple injurues to her head.

Harrisson denies all the charges and has lodged a special defence of alibi to the murder charge, stating at the time of the alleged crime he was at home.

The trial before judge Lord Richardson is expected to last up to three weeks.