The police officer who arrested the ex-husband of Brenda Page on the day of her death has described him as “very unemotional” upon hearing his ex-wife had been murdered.
Retired police sergeant Brian Kennedy said Dr Christopher ‘Kit’ Harrisson, 82, didn’t ask how or where the 32-year-old had died, when told she had been brutally killed.
Mr Kennedy, who was a detective constable at the time, told the High Court in Aberdeen that Harrisson simply replied: “Oh my God. How awful”.
When he learned he was being arrested, Harrisson then asked if he could “feed his chickens” before being taken into custody.
The former policeman also told the court that he recovered a watch strap from Harrisson’s home that had been discovered in the fireplace.
He also noted Harrisson was wearing shoes that looked “brand new”, the jury heard.
Dr Page, who worked as a scientist at the University of Aberdeen, returned to her flat in the city’s Allan Street on the early morning of July 14 1978.
The geneticist was repeatedly struck on the head, face and body 20 times with a blunt implement.
Her battered body was discovered sprawled across her bed days later by a neighbour.
Harrisson’s defence advocate Brian McConnachie KC has entered a special defence of alibi on behalf of his client, claiming her divorced husband was at his home when the alleged murder took place.
The biochemist denies all the charges against him.
‘He was very unemotional and offhand’
Asked by prosecuting advocate depute Alex Prentice KC about the day Brenda died, Mr Kennedy said a major murder investigation was launched as soon as Dr Page was discovered dead.
He and a colleague were immediately dispatched to the address of Dr Christopher Harrisson but found his home empty, the court was told.
“We remained there to keep the premises under observation for some time”, Mr Kennedy added.
When Harrisson eventually arrived home, Mr Kennedy said he and his colleague went to the front door to inform him that his ex-wife had been murdered and then placed him under arrest.
“He was very unemotional and offhand,” the policeman explained.
“He didn’t ask how she died or where she died. I think he said something, like: ‘Oh my God. How awful’. It was very matter-of-fact.”
Mr Prentice then questioned if Harrisson had asked the witness about any details of Dr Page’s murder.
“Nothing at all,” he replied, adding: “When he was told he was being arrested, he asked for permission to feed his chickens before he left.”
Harrison was then driven in a police car to Queen Street police station in Aberdeen, where he was booked in at the custody desk.
“At any stage, between you first telling him about the death of his wife and you presenting him to the charge bar officer, did he ask about the circumstances of his wife’s death?” Mr Prentice asked.
“None at all,” Mr Kennedy responded.
Harrisson’s arrest
Harrisson’s defence advocate Brian McConnachie KC asked Mr Kennedy about his client’s arrest that day.
“The caution that you administered to him, the first part of that was that he did not require to say anything?”
Mr Kennedy replied: “That’s correct”.
Mr McConnachie then asked: “So he then exercised that right to silence in relation to the matter you were there to arrest him for?”
“I suppose, yes,” the former police officer said.
‘A fiery temper’
During earlier evidence given by former Chief Superintendent John Fullerton of Grampian Police, the jury heard Harrisson described as “having a fiery temper” and someone who, when holding something, was “likely to hit out with it”.
One alleged incident involved a porter named Thomas Gray, who worked at Aberdeen University’s Forresterhill campus – Dr Page’s workplace, which Harrisson was visiting without permission.
It was claimed that Harrisson went to Mr Gray’s home, where he screamed at him after he had been reported for using the facilities.
Another alleged incident was described by Dr Jessie Watt, Dr Page’s lab colleague, who said that Harrisson turned up at their workplace with homemade bread on Brenda’s birthday.
As the accused wasn’t allowed entry, he asked Dr Watt to deliver it to Brenda.
The court heard that, after being told about the gift, Dr Page said: “I’m not eating that. It’s poisoned”.
Mr McConnachie, who’s defending Harrisson, questioned Dr Watt, asking: “Did you eat the bread?”
“Yes, I ate it,” she replied.
“Was it poisoned?” he asked.
“No”, Dr Watt answered.
The trial, before judge Lord Richardson, continues.
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