One of the accused, Mitchell, turned informer. Charges were dropped and he testified against his associates.

She said: “Although these behaviours are not always obvious to others and often described as ‘hidden in plain sight’, women and children have been telling us for years how traumatic and damaging coercive control can be.

I then asked if he’d like something to drink. I happened to have two bottles, one of lemonade and one of whisky. He agreed to share a dram. I poured him a generous measure.” They might not disclose instantly but you never know when, three weeks down the line, and you speak to that person again. Read More Related Articles

The couple's daughter, who has been left to bring up her 13-year-old brother, Roddie Jr, said: ''Coming to court was all part of the process of finding out what really happened to my mum and dad because I couldn't be at peace until I knew.

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Mr Aitken and Meikleham had been partners and friends for a year in a lucrative cannabis smuggling operation between Spain and Scotland, regularly bringing in #30,000 consignments with the help of a network of couriers. She added: “I just think if they had been able to seek the correct support it might not have got to that stage. Ms Turner was pronounced dead at the scene sparking a murder probe following a post mortem the following day. We didn’t have a weapon or any of the drugs. We also didn’t know the real name of the girl who had been with Thorne. Crucially we didn’t have a body. Speaking generally about the situation some women face, Shirley added: “When you break up from an abusive partner, you kind of expect that to be it over.