THE man whose dismembered body was allegedly found in the sewage

system at Bothwell in Lanarkshire was a major drugs dealer who had been

threatened by ''heavies'', it was alleged yesterday.

George Hall also used his skills as a black belt in judo ''routinely''

to beat up his wife, the High Court in Edinburgh was told.

On trial are his wife, Mrs Jacqueline Hall, 28, Mr Robert Allan, 23,

Mr George Carlin, 35, and Mr James Nicholas, 25. All deny murdering Mr

Hall, of Craigbarnet Road, Milngavie, on October 9 last year.

The Crown alleges that the accused repeatedly shot Mr Hall on the head

and body in Cobblers Bar, Elm Street, Blantyre.

Mr Allan and Mr Nicholas are also charged with dismembering and

burning the body before concealing it in the local sewage system. Mr

Allan also denies attempting to defeat the ends of justice by setting

fire to the car allegedly used in the murder and throwing a firearm,

silencer, and ammunition into the River Clyde.

The missing man's brother, Mr James Hall, 26, was questioned yesterday

by Mr Derek Ogg, counsel for Mrs Hall, and repeatedly denied assertions

that his brother used his driving school business as a front for drug

dealing, regularly assaulted his wife, and was in fear his life from

''heavies'' because of drug debts.

Mr Hall confirmed his brother was a black belt in judo and had a

gymnasium at his house.

Mr Ogg put it to him that his brother had routinely beaten up Mrs

Hall. ''She was battered for years by this man and you knew that.''

The witness replied that if Mrs Hall had been beaten up he never saw

any marks on her.

Mr Ogg asked if he had heard that his brother was in a lot of trouble

before he disappeared. Mr Hall said he had not heard that.

He agreed that although his brother had been declared bankrupt shortly

before his disappearance, he had been hoarding large sums of money

around the house.

Mr Ogg suggested that George Hall had used the cash as working capital

for his drugs operation and added: ''You would know about that because

you were involved in that business.''

''Definitely not sir,'' replied Mr Hall.

He thought the cash, about #12,000, had been built up over the years

from his brother's driving school business.

Mr Ogg asked whether Mr Hall had heard of the ''Drummy Crew'' and

whether his brother had talked of owing money to ''heavies''. He

suggested that George Hall had got into debt over drugs with Drumchapel

dealers, and put it to the witness that he had known this when his

brother went missing.

Mr Hall denied the allegation and said that his brother kept #12,000

hidden in a cistern at his house, a hiding place which his wife did not

know about. After his brother disappeared he checked the cistern and the

cash was missing.

Mr Christopher Shepherd, 42, of the Melville School of Motoring in

Bank Street, Hillhead, Glasgow, told the court that he, George and

Jacqueline Hall had been partners.

Mrs Hall had made it clear that her marriage was unhappy and told him

that her husband subjected her to physical violence and mental cruelty.

On the week that he disappeared, Mrs Hall had come into the office

very upset claiming that he had accused her of ''nicking'' his car.

Mr Shepherd added: ''She came into the office and said something like

'I will swing for that f---ing c--t'.''

On January 29 this year police had called at the motoring school to

say they believed the body in the sewer was that of Mr Hall. Asked how

Mrs Hall reacted, Mr Shepherd replied: ''She was crying, very upset, and

distraught.''

The trial continues.