Man accused of hammer murder of Edinburgh mum-of-two demonstrates how she was slain

The man accused of murdering an Edinburgh mum-of-two demonstrated how she was bludgeoned as she sat in her mobility scooter.
Richard Canlin and beat Nicola StevensonRichard Canlin and beat Nicola Stevenson
Richard Canlin and beat Nicola Stevenson

Dramatic video of Richard Canlin acting out how he said another man beat Nicola Stevenson over the head was shown to the jury.

Canlin, 42, is accused of murdering Nicola Stevenson, 39, originally from Edinburgh, at her flat between October 10 and November 13 last year and dumping her body in a wheelie bin.

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In video taped police interviews, Canlin demonstrated how a man called John Parish rained blows down on her head as she sat in her mobility scooter.

Tragic: Nicola StevensonTragic: Nicola Stevenson
Tragic: Nicola Stevenson

Earlier, the jury heard the former Balerno High School pupil left the flat in Lewes, East Sussex, after an argument with Canlin on October 10, 2019.

He said she left to “Cool down”.

After she left, Canlin said she was stopped by John Parish.

“She was alive when she left the flat,” Canlin told police.

Accused: Richard CanlinAccused: Richard Canlin
Accused: Richard Canlin

He said he recognised John Parish as the man who stopped her.

“I saw his face, so I knew it was him.

“Then I was scared because of what he said and what he was doing.

“He looked like he was arguing.”

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Canlin raised his hand over his head to demonstrate what he saw.

“All of a sudden Parish went like that .

“Nicola went Ahh and he cracked her again and he did it again a few times.

“She moved forward a bit and that’s when he hit her.

“I didn’t know what he had in his hand at the time.

“He did it again and again and again.”

Canlin, who had a solicitor and an appropriate adult in the police interview room with him, said after John Parish had beaten Nicola Stevenson, he went behind the flat to retrieve a wheelie bin.

“I just froze,” he said.

“She’s in a wheelchair, he’s got a bin.

“I still have nightmares.

“He was pulling the bin behind him.

“I went in the flat, locked the door.”

Canlin told police Nicola was his sister and they were close but lost touch after their parents died.

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Sussex Police has not been able to establish any family connection between Canlin and Nicola, whose parents have been in court.

Asked if he said anything to John Parish, Canlin said: “I just froze. I couldn’t do anything.”

Canlin said John Parish forced him to take money out of Nicola Stevenson’s back accounts.

“He said if I told anybody what I saw, I would get the same treatment.

“He said he wanted more money out.

“About four lots.

“It was Nicola’s.

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“He said If you don’t get the money out, you won’t see the light of day again.”

The trial at Hove Crown Court in East Sussex continues.

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