A pensioner is to stand trial charged with the rape and murder of a missing mum, writes Grant McCabe.
George Metcalff is accused of killing Patricia Henry at her flat in Girvan on November 17, 2017.
Prosecutors claim the 70 year-old attacked Patricia – known as Patti – by “means unknown”.
Metcalff is then charged with attempting to defeat the ends of justice between the day of the alleged murder and February 22, 2018.
This lists an accusation that he did “conceal and dispose” of the 46 year-old's body again by unknown means.
The indictment features a number of other charges including the rape of Patricia.
This is said to have occurred between January 2008 and October 2011 at an address in Paisley, Renfrewshire.
He faces a separate accusation of sexually assaulting Patricia while she was sleeping in December 2014.
Metcalff also allegedly physically attacked her by choking her in October 2017.
The remaining accusations date back to June 1971 involving four other women.
This includes the rape of one at Gleniffer Braes in Paisley and in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire.
Metcalff is alleged to have carried out the same crime on another between October 1989 and Decmber 2004.
He is accused of physical assaults on the other two.
His QC Iain McSporran pled not guilty on his behalf during a short hearing at the High Court in Glasgow today/yesterday.
He added: “There are on-going discussions in what is a substantial case, but both the defence and prosecution are content for a trial to be set.”
Mr McSporran estimated the case lasting around four weeks.
Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC said “work continues”, but that would not prevent a trial being arranged.
Lord Matthews set the trial due to begin in June.
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