BBC News [Scotland]
May 1, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6611271.stm
A parish priest behaved strangely in the aftermath of Angelika Kluk's disappearance, a court has heard.
Catholic press officer Simon Dames, 34, told the High Court in Edinburgh that Father Gerry Nugent, 63, said he "no longer gave a damn" about the girl.
Mr Dames had been summoned by Father Gerry to St Patrick's Church in Anderston, Glasgow, where the Polish student's body was later found.
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| Mr Dames said Father Gerry and Angelika had fallen out |
Peter Tobin, 60, denies raping and murdering Angelika and other charges.
Mr Dames said he had no idea why Father Gerry wanted to see him when he received a phone call from the priest.
When asked to describe Father Gerry's behaviour, Mr Dames said: "You could use the word anxious, maybe tipping towards nervous. Someone who wanted to meet me very quickly."
| "He said regarding the last six weeks he no longer gave a damn. He no longer gave a damn about Angelika" Simon Dames Catholic press officer |
But Mr Dames said that by the time he arrived at St Patrick's chapel house on Tuesday 26 September, two days after Angelika was last seen alive, the priest had changed and "was calm."
Mr Dames said during the conversation that followed Father Gerry described his "father-daughter" relationship with Angelika.
But he said there had apparently been some sort of argument about six weeks earlier. Mr Dames said he thought it might be connected with the supposed discovery of "The Pill" in Angelika's room by the priest.
Mr Dames said of Father Gerry: "He said regarding the last six weeks he no longer gave a damn. He no longer gave a damn about Angelika."
Donald Findlay, QC, defending, asked: "That, coming from a priest, what was your reaction?" Mr Dames responded: "Not expected."
The trial has previously heard that Father Gerry claimed to have had a sexual relationship with Angelika, 23.
Peter Tobin denies murder, attempting to defeat the ends of justice, and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Trial continues
He also denies rape, claiming he had sex with Angelika with her consent.
Angelika, 23, had been staying at the chapel house attached to St Patrick's Church in Anderston, Glasgow, and working as a cleaner to help finance her language studies in Gdansk.
Mr Tobin was helping out there as an odd job man.
He is accused of attacking Angelika between 24 September and 29 September in St Patrick's Church, or elsewhere, gagging her with cloth and tape, binding her hands with cable ties, raping her, smashing her skull with a piece of wood or something similar, stabbing her 16 times in the chest and inflicting other knife injuries.
It is alleged that he then hid the body under the floor of the church.
A further charge alleges that he told Glasgow police his name was Patrick McLaughlin, gave a false date of birth and address, and that he travelled to London and gave staff at the National Neurology and Neurosurgery Hospital in Queen's Square, London, another false name.
No evidence has been heard about an alleged breach of the peace at the church between July and September when Russian student Rebecca Dordi was supposedly threatened by Mr Tobin and the charge has been dropped.
The trial continues.
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