Cold blooded murder

Published 17 Jun 2010 13:10 0 Comments

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Exclusive by Jennifer Cauley

A MURDER witness has spoken of the horror of losing his best pal in a brutal glass attack.

Raymond Forrest cradled John Cook's battered body as he lay dead in his arms.

The 48-year-old tried to resuscitate Mr Cook, 61, after he was hit on the neck with a lamp base, a broken glass and a broken mug at his home in Henry Street in October last year.

Barrhead mum Elizabeth Shields was found guilty of the brutal murder at the High Court in Glasgow this week.

The 33-year-old was sentenced to at least 14 years in jail and Forrest has spoken exclusively to the News about the terrifying events.

The former soldier said: "I'm still grieving for my friend. I'll miss him.

"Justice has been done for John Cook."

"Justice has been done and God rest him.

"I grieve in different ways. But the best thing I've ever heard is that she got 14 years."

Forrest was drinking in Cook's flat on the night of the murder along with Shields and another man, Graham Laidlaw.

An argument then developed between Shields and Mr Cook - a former psychiatric nurse.

The man who had previously befriended Shields was then attacked by her after ordering her to get out of his house that night.

After launching at him with a tumbler and hacking at his neck, Shields sliced into one of his wrists with broken glass - leaving the man to soak in his own blood.

Eyewitness Forrest struggled to revive neighbour Cook and felt the blood from his pal's body jet up and spatter across his shirt.

He said: "It was horrendous - completely horrendous. The blood came up out of him and I was covered in it.

"To see your best friend killed in front of you - I couldn't believe it.

"I done my best on the night.

Forrest first met kind-hearted John four years ago when he moved into the block of flats on quiet Henry Street.

Taking a shine to Raymond, John fed the ex-paratrooper and offered him clothes, furniture, and helped him to cook healthy meals.

He told the News how Shields' heartless attack on his closest friend has left him feeling distraught and alone.

Forrest added: "He was such a lovely man. I'll really miss him.

"We spent time together - he'd just sit down and talk about things.

"We shared a combination of interests and I fed off him and his intelligence.

"I'd give him my experience and that's it."

Witnessing such a vicious and cold-hearted murder has left Forrest a broken man.

Close to tears, Forrest vowed not to move away from Barrhead as he tries to come to terms with what happened.

He added: "I'm starting my life again and I'm staying here. Sometimes you have to take control.

"I sit down at night and talk to him.

"I have nothing - I lost my pal. He gave me what I didn't have.

"It breaks my heart."

This article appeared in Barrhead News 16 Jun 10

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