Man to stand trial charged with murdering partner and brother

Peter Duffy faces claims that he killed both Emma Baillie, 26, and 51-year-old John Paul Duffy.

The 47-year-old is said to have fatally attacked Emma on an occasion between March 4 and April 12, 2022 at a property in Calder Street in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire.

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It is claimed Duffy compressed her neck and repeatedly struck her on the head and body with a knife.

Duffy faces a separate domestic abuse accusation in connection with Emma, who lived elsewhere in the town.

This includes allegations that he caused her to fall down stairs, hit her with a brush and controlled her money as well as when she could see family and friends.

Prosecutors claim this occurred between September 1, 2021 and April 12, 2022.

The indictment then states Duffy murdered sibling John Paul on a date between March 29 and April 10, 2022 at his home in High Coats, Coatbridge.

John Paul is also said to have been hit repeatedly with a knife.

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Duffy is further accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice following the alleged murders.

This includes claims that he pretended to a child and a police officer during phone calls that he was his brother John Paul.

Duffy faces a number of other theft and fraud charges in that he apparently used bank cards in the names of Emma and John Paul at various places.

One accusation claims he used a debit card belonging to Emma to buy £1 of "goods" at a sweet shop in Coatbridge on April 4, 2022.

Duffy appeared in the dock for a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday.

His lawyer George Gebbie said defence investigations were ongoing.

But both he and prosecutor Angela Gray told the hearing a trial could be set.

Judge Lady Drummond went on to state: "I will fix a trial for January 29 in Glasgow with an estimated duration of 15 days."