New mum died after taking cocaine on first night out following birth of son
A new mum sadly died after taking cocaine on the first night out after her son was born, a court has heard.
Rebecca Tollan, 23, died in Lanarkshire in July 2019, after 'ingesting' the Class A drug.
On Monday (7 November) two men - Barry McAuley, 40, and Martin Stewart, 34, went on trial at the High Court in Glasgow, charged with culpable homicide.
The court heard how the pair gave the 'potentially lethal' drug to Rebecca on 14 and 15 July 2019. The incidents are believed to have happened at a pub in Lanarkshire and at a house in Bellshill.
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McAuley and Stewart denied the accusations.
On Monday, the court heard from Rebecca's sister-in-law, Pamela Tollan, 31, who was witness in the trial.
The pair had gone out on 14 July when two drinks arrived at their table, reportedly ordered by McAuley and Stewart, who Pamela pointed to in the dock.
Pamela explained they were 'having a laugh' when Rebecca asked if they had any 'stuff'
"I knew exactly what she meant... asking if they had any cocaine," Pamela said.
The court heard how McAuley gave Pamela a 'bag' before she explained she needed the toilet and Rebecca joined her.
When asked by prosecutor Alex Prentice KC: "Did you think Becky had another purpose to go to the toilet?", Pamela responded: "To get the bag."
The court heard how Rebecca had taken the cocaine before all four went to a residential property. Pamela explained that when in the house, she saw four lines of cocaine on a plate.
Mr Prentice asked: "Did you take a line?", to which she replied: "No as I am a bit of a scaredy-cat."
Pamela explained how she later saw more cocaine and believed Rebecca had taken some more.
"Becky was her own person. No matter how much you told her, she would not listen.
"I did tell her: 'You do not need it...you are having a good time'. I told her to stop because you do not need it."
Pamela said that she then asked Stewart to call a taxi to take them home, but it was at this point that Rebecca became unwell.
"Becky started shaking. I just thought she was cold to start with," she recalled.
"Martin asked was she epileptic and I said no. Martin put her in the recovery position. I was saying: 'What is happening to her?' I was shouting: 'Becky, Becky'."
Rebecca sadly did not recover, despite attempts made to save her at the property.
Pamela confirmed this was the first time Rebecca had been out since giving birth to her son, and that she had not drank alcohol or used drugs during her pregnancy.
The trial continues.
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Lucy Devine