An Aberdeen dad was in good spirits when he popped into his local shop just hours before being allegedly murdered, a court has heard.
James Chadwick was found dead at a flat in the city’s Holland Street last summer.
Ryan Gibb, 30, and Cameron Laurie, 31, are on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh accused of murdering him by hitting him on the head and body with a dog lead or something similar, before repeatedly kicking him and stamping on his head.
Today, shop worker Marie Fraser told the jury Mr Chadwick had been in the L&M store on Hutcheon Street, on August 31.
She said the 37-year-old was a regular customer at the convenience store, and would regularly buy bottles of Frosty Jack cider and cigarettes.
She told the court that he had been in a good mood when he popped into the convenience shop.
“He was a cheeky chappy”, she said.
She gave evidence as jurors were played a short CCTV video of Mr Chadwick in the shop.
Ms Fraser added: “He seemed to be in good spirits.”
Yesterday, the court heard Mr Chadwick had told his brother he was “worried” relatives of his former partner were going to attack him.
Thomas Holmes, 36, told the court Mr Chadwick feared people close to Tracy Gibb believed he had been cheating on her.
Mr Holmes told the court: “He was worried for his safety. He was scared there were people after him.”
Gibb and Laurie both deny the charges against them. The trial continues.