A Belfast man who allegedly stalked his former live-in lover has gone on trial at the Crown Court accused of threatening to kill her. Judge Jeffrey Foote heard that when arrested in May 1996, Mr Billy Williamson (39) threatened to dump her body in a skip.
Mr Williamson from Ladas Way denies three charges of assaulting the 38-year-old woman, occasioning her actual bodily harm and threatening to kill her.
Mr Jim Lavery QC, prosecuting, claimed Mr Williamson could not accept the affair was over and began stalking her. When she finally asked that he be arrested, Mr Williamson allegedly told police: "If that's the way she wants to play it, she'll be found in a skip."
The couple began living together in late 1994. She returned to her mother's home in May 1995 after he had dragged her out of bed by the hair and beaten her. She reported the attack to police, but told them she did not want Mr Williamson prosecuted. Despite her fears, the woman was persuaded to rent a house with Mr Williamson and to furnish it. "She was still worried about the relationship because of the swings in his behaviour," Mr Lavery said.
By Christmas 1995 she left, telling the electricity service she would no longer be responsible for bills. Mr Lavery said when Mr Williamson got a note to this effect he went to her mother's home. He attacked her while she was on the phone to police. Although the attack was also reported, the woman, afraid of the con sequences, asked that Mr Williamson not be prosecuted.
Mr Lavery said Mr Williamson began stalking her, following her to work and once forcing her car to stop after shunting it with his own and then attacking her.
The woman, suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, moved into a Women's Aid shelter with her mother and obtained two court orders against Mr Williamson. They returned to their own home later and in May 1996, while driving to work, the woman was allegedly confronted again by Mr Williamson who drew his hand across his throat four times in a cutting gesture.
Mr Lavery said the woman was frightened and thought Mr Williamson meant to kill her. She reported the episode to police. The incident had allegedly been witnessed by one of her workmates.
The woman told the court that when they first met, Mr Williamson had "come across as a pleasant person, a gentleman", but when he threatened her, he looked "evil. I thought he was going to kill me." The trial continues.