A man who murdered Margaret Fleming is “bed bound” but is “fit” to face a proceeds of crime action, a court has heard.
Lawyers for Edward Cairney, 79, were concerned that he wouldn’t be able to participate or understand why prosecutors were seeking to seize £182,000 from him.
However, yesterday, judge Lord Summers heard how a psychiatrist had examined Cairney and concluded he was fit to face the action.
Cairney and Avril Jones, 61, are serving life sentences for murdering Margaret, 19, sometime between December 1999 and January 2000.
They were supposed to look after Margaret. But Jones continued to claim £182,000 in benefits until it emerged that Margaret was missing in October 2016.
Police suspected the duo took Margaret’s life at their cottage in Inverkip, Renfrewshire.
Her body has never been found.
Judge Lord Matthews told the couple they’d have to serve at least 14 years before they’d be able to apply for parole.
Lord Summers continued the case for three more weeks.
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