Accused 'owed man money'

Owen Anderson is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow

A man accused of murdering tool salesman Gary Linn appeared in his "bad debtors" list, a court has heard.

The body of the 38-year-old father of three was found in May near a river bridge in Midlothian after a nine-month search.

The High Court in Glasgow has heard that Mr Linn's records listed Owen Anderson, 30, as owing him £142.50 since 21 April, 2000.

He denies killing the salesman by repeatedly striking him on the head with a hammer or similar object.

Gary Linn disappeared in August 2001

Mr Anderson has lodged a special defence incriminating a man known only as "Stevie" from the Edinburgh area.

David Wilson, 51, the branch manager of Snap On Tools', told the court on Tuesday that Anderson was on Mr Linn's bad debt list.

He said that Mr Linn's records showed Anderson had owed him £142.50 since 21 April, 2000.

When asked by advocate depute Brian McConnachie what that entry meant, Mr Wilson said: "In my experience it would tell me that we have not seen that man or had dealings with him since April 2000.

"The account has been written off as a bad debt."

Mother's anguish

Mr Wilson, who operates from the company's sole Scottish base at Fulwood Industrial Estate in Hamilton, told the court that Mr Linn's records highlighted a payment of £10 from Anderson on 24 August last year.

Asked by Mr McConnachie what this signified, he said: "It would suggest to me that Gary has bumped into the man and said: `You still owe me £142.50', and the man has paid him £10."

Irene Linn, Gary's mother, told the court she was close to her son. She and her husband gave him land near their home to build a house for his family.

She said she last spoke to her son two days before he went missing and he seemed normal.

Mrs Linn said on the night he disappeared Gary was supposed to attend an engagement party, and when he did not go there she knew something was wrong.

She said her mother's instinct told her he was not coming home.