Whisky boss wished his wife dead when he didn't like the birthday present she gave him, court hears

Daily Mail​

24-06-2025

A former managing director of a Scottish whisky company wished his wife dead because he did not like his birthday present, a court has heard.
Christopher Leggat allegedly told his wife Cara 'I hope you die in your sleep' because of the 'childish and ridiculous' TikTok water bottle she had gifted him.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how he lost his temper because he was disappointed at a perceived lack of effort to mark his birthday in January 2023.
He later apologised for the remark and claimed it was 'a bit of banter', his wife told the court.
The incident was one of several outlined at the court, where Leggatt, 44, is accused of verbal and physical abuse towards his 42-year-old former wife.
He faces a string of allegations which include slapping her while walking home from an Old Firm game and pushing her into a kitchen cabinet at their home in the Pollokshields area of the city.
He is also claimed to have kept tabs on her location by using an electronic device and placing her under a curfew.
Leggat is the ex-managing director of his wife's family company Douglas Laing & Co, based in Hillington, Glasgow.
Mrs Leggat, who has taken over the role, told the court that he tried to stop her from seeing family.
The couple were married in 2013 and worked together at the firm where Mrs Leggat's father Fred Laing is chairman.
Leggat pleaded not guilty to engaging in a course of behaviour which was abusive to his partner or ex-partner between September 2022 and November 2024.
The pair were given hospitality tickets to Hampden Park in February 2023 for an Old Firm League Cup Final clash.
Cara stated that when they walked home after the match and she was pushed into a bush by Leggat.
She told the court that a notification appeared on her phone in March 2024 regarding an Apple AirTag tracking device.
The witness stated that Leggat told her at the time that he had 'no knowledge of it'.
She also accused Leggat of 'discouraging' her from seeing her parents which also included a curfew which made her 'twitch' when it was close.
Cara claimed that the last occasion Leggat became violent towards her was in November 2024 at the family home.
She said he slapped her on the forehead and pushed her into a kitchen cabinet which resulted in a thigh injury.
Cara told the court that she called her father and the police were called.
Prosecutor Siobhan Currie asked Cara why she did not contact the police on an earlier occasion.
She replied: 'I knew he wanted to stay in the Scottish whisky industry.
'From my knowledge he would find it hard to get into the USA and Singapore which are key places in the industry.
'I didn't want the man not to get an international job.'
Leggat, now of Bearsden, Dunbartonshire, told the court in his evidence that he left the company in 2023 with Cara taking over his role.
He stated that he did not complain about his birthday plans and refuted allegations that he told Cara that he wanted her to die.
He also denied slapping her after the Old Firm game but accepted that he may have caught her on the chin or chest while expressing himself in conversation.
He said: 'She did not fall into a bush - we were walking beside a bush.'
Leggat further stated that Cara was aware of AirTags as they had discussed the devices with her.
He claimed that Cara 'prodded' him ten times before her father arrived at their home in November 2024.
He stated that he did not grab his wife and push her against the kitchen cabinet.