A FORMER Presbyterian moderator was compelled to give evidence yesterday at the trial in Belfast of an RUC man accused of murdering his family.
The Rev Dr Andrew Rodgers, who officiated at the wedding of Mr John Torney, told the Crown Court he had to be subpoenaed by the prosecution. Mr Torney denies murdering his wife Linda (33), son John (13) and daughter Emma (10) at their Cookstown, Co Tyrone, home in September 1994.
He claims his son killed his mother and sister with his father's police revolver before turning the gun on himself. However, the prosecution says that Mr Torney carried out the killings after becoming infatuated with a colleague, Ms Ailsa Millar.
Dr Rodgers said that in the months before the shootings he had talked to the Torney couple about their marriage. He said Mrs Torney still loved her husband, but felt he had ceased to love her, while Mr Torney felt the marriage was as good as over.
In late August he visited Mr Torney while his wife was with her father. A lady also called to the house, he said. She was not introduced to him and he made his excuses and left.
The following day Mr Torney told him she "was the person who had been helping him" and that they did not part company until half past three in the morning. "He said: `She showed me what life could be like, or what married life could be like'," Dr Rodgers added.
The former moderator said Mr Torney told him in Cookstown RUC station that his son had carried out the killings.
"He said he had woken up and that his son was standing over him with gloves on his hands and a pistol and told him to get out and that he fled from the house. That's the only thing he told me when he first spoke to me."
The trial continues.