Family row over safe
A PENSIONER was the victim of a horror murder bid amid a bitter family row over his father’s safe.
Derek Robertson was ambushed in his own home in Maybole, Ayrshire, by a machete- wielding robber and his female accomplice demanding the cash box.
The now 69- year- old was repeatedly struck with the weapon as he desperately tried to defend himself.
The attack on December 11, 2019, came the same day his sister Greta Robertson, 64, reported him to police for having the safe - containing almost £ 130,000 - in his home.
This was despite there initially being an agreement between the pair and two other siblings that Derek should keep hold of it while their father Hamilton - known as Milton - was in hospital.
But, Greta - one of the people who had power of attorney for their dad’s personal affairs - had demanded it be returned.
Jurors heard how they had been a “close family” but that this dispute shattered relations.
Detectives probing the attack ended up arresting HGV driver Barry Marshall - the partner of Greta’s daughter.
Marshall’s friend Marion Hawkins was also held.
The pair - both 41 - denied being the culprits during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Among the claims Marshall, of Pollok, Glasgow, made to police was that he had been in the area of Derek’s home because he was having an affair with another woman.
Hawkins, of East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, said she had been in Marshall’s BMW X5 that day after he suggested going for a “run” in it to Ayrshire in the middle of winter.
Both incriminated a man said to be a local criminal.
Greta - who was not on trial - denied “encouraging” anyone to target her brother and insisted she was “horrified” when she learned Derek had been stabbed.
Marshall and Hawkins are now behind bars after they were each convicted of attempted murder and the robbery of Derek’s mobile phone.
Lady Poole deferred sentencing for reports.
The judge told the pair: “This attack was carried out on a man in his 60s in his own home.
“This was a despicable thing to do. The victim impact statement I have read speaks of the physical and emotional impact on him.”