Gay Flybe pilot stabbed to death by partner, court told

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The partner of a former RAF pilot, who worked for the airline Flybe, denies murdering the victim.

Darren McLauchlan, 24, said he found Steven Barrett seriously injured in a bedroom in their Edinburgh flat on 6 April last year.

Mr Barrett, 27, worked as a first officer for Flybe.

On Monday, Mr McLauchlan told the High Court in Edinburgh that he called an ambulance and then applied pressure on Mr Barrett’s wounds after discovering his partner’s injuries.

The accused said his head “was all over the place” and he was crying and screaming at Mr Barrett “what have you done”.

Mr McLauchlan said he knew there were a number of issues in Mr Barrett’s life, including telling his parents that he was gay and redundancy fears at the airline Flybe, where he worked after leaving the RAF.

Mr McLauchlan denies murdering Mr Barrett by stabbing him on the body.

He also denies a further charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The trial, before judge Michael O’Grady QC, continues.

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