Two men are set to go on trial over the alleged murder of a Scottish dad.
Paul Taylor, 56, vanished from his home in Annan in Dumfries and Galloway shortly before midnight on October 17.
A major search was launched for Paul when his blue Vauxhall Corsa was discovered in Langwathby, Cumbria, two days after his disappearance.
His remains were discovered by officers seven months later, on May 2, in the Finglandrigg Wood area off the B5307 near Carlisle.
Jack Crawley, 20, is accused of murdering the 56-year-old father while Marcus Goodfellow, also 20, is charged with assisting an offender.
Both men, from Carlisle, will appear before Carlisle Crown Court on Tuesday after previously submitting not-guilty pleas. The trial, presided by the Hon Justice Goose, is expected to run for three weeks and four days.
On the night of his disappearance, Paul’s car was seen travelling to Carlisle, going into the City West area around Yewdale and Sandsfield Park.
Detectives believe Paul’s car was then outside the Carlisle city limits on Moorhouse Road and Burgh Road toward Kirkandrews on Eden, in the early hours of Wednesday, October 18.
The vehicle was parked up in Green Lane, Carlisle, on the Wednesday morning around 9.50am. It was eventually found abandoned in the village of Langwathby, south of the city, at about 8.30am on Thursday, October 19.
The family of decorated ex-Army man Paul, who served in the Falklands and Iraq, previously issued their own appeal for help to bring him home. At the time, a statement from his family read: “We are reaching out to anyone who knew Paul, or has even the smallest bit of information related to his disappearance that would help us find peace and get answers.”
His daughter Beth Taylor said she was “heartbroken” as she took to social media to seek information on her missing dad.
Paul’s sister Angela also shared the police appeal for information and wrote: “Devastated beyond words.” Speaking to the media in May, a spokesperson for Cumbria Police said: “Human remains found in the area of Finglandrigg Wood, off the B5307 outside Carlisle, have been confirmed to be those of missing Annan man Paul Taylor. A police presence will be in the area for some time while officers continue with their work at the scene. Paul’s family have been informed.”
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