A new mother, 23, died after taking cocaine the first night after birth of her son, while the court she is suing two men who gave her the drug. Rebecca Tollan, died at a home in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, in July 2019.
Barry McAuley, 40, and Martin Stewart, 34, went on trial on Monday charged with Rebecca’s murder. The “twin” had allegedly given her the cocaine illegally on 14 and 15 July 2019. According to the Court this happened in pub Railway Tavern in Motherwell, Lanarkshire and in home at Bellshill. The indictment states that Rebecca died after “ingesting” the drug.
McAuley and Stewart deny the charges at the High Court in Glasgow. Rebecca’s sister-in-law Pamela Tollan, 31, was the first witness at trial. The women had gone out on July 14 and finally they ended up in a beer hall. Two drinks arrived at their table, which they ordered two men who was in the same shop and at first Rebecca thought she knew them. The women sat with the men at last at the same table. Asked by prosecutor Alex Prentice KC if he would recognized again the two men, h witness pointed to McAuley and Stewart sitting in the bench. He said one was called Barry and the other Martin.
Pamela said they were “laughing and having a good time” together and added that Rebecca – who she knew as Becky – he then asked them if they had any “things”.
Pamela: “I knew exactly what he meant…asking if they had cocaine.”
The court heard that Barry gave Pamela “a bag”. Pamela later went to the bathroom and her sister-in-law followed her.
The dialogue between Prosecutor and Witness
Prosecutor: “Did you think Becky had another purpose in going to the bathroom?”
Pamela: “To get the bag.”
Jurors heard Rebbeca took cocaine in the toilet before the women returned to the two men. Afterwards they all went home to Bellshill. Pamela remembered seeing four rows of cocaine in one black plate. After Pamela returned from the toilet, she was left alone a series of drugs.
The Prosecutor asked the witness: “Did you get a line?”
She replied: “No because I am funny girl like a cat.”
Pamela told the trial she later saw more cocaine and believed Rebbeca took some.
Prosecutor: “Were you concerned about the amount he took?”
Pamela: “Beckie did her thing. No matter what you said to her, she wouldn’t listen.” she said, adding: “I told her, ‘You don’t need it… are you having fun. Her I told him to stop because you don’t need it…”
Pamela finally asked Martin to call one taxi to take the women home, with the Prosecutor asking what happened then.
A visibly moved Pamela said, “Becky he began to tremble. I just thought she was cold at first. “Martin asked if it was epileptic and i said no. Martin put her in recovery position.
“I was saying: “What’s wrong with her?I was shouting: “Becky, Becky”.
Pamela recalled seeing blood on Rebbeca as he had bitten her language. He also recalled that her attitude was “steady.”
Rescue crews soon arrived to help her.
Pemela: “I kept saying: “Becky, come on”. I tried to calm her down and say it was okay.”
Attempts were made to revive Rebbeca at home but she never recovered.
The court heard the man Pamela knew as Barry was not well either.
THE Prosecutor he later asked the witness how much the women had drunk that day and night.
Donald Findlay, defense witnesssaid: “Rebbeca had given birth – was it the first time she’d been out since coming out of hospital?”
Pamela: “Yes”
Findlay: “During her pregnancy, did she abstain from alcohol?”
The witness again agreed.
Defense attorney: “He probably wasn’t on cocaine either?”
Pamela stated that she did not.
Findlay: “So the last time he drank was nine months ago?”
Pamela: “Yes”
Stewart, of Viewpark, North Lanarkshire, faces separate charges of being involved in the supply of cocaine and cannabis. McAuley, also from Bellshill, appears on one of those cocaine charges.
THE trial to be continued.
Source: News Beast
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
