AN alleged murder victim and one of the men accused of killing him and his two children in a house fire met to sort out a deal over payment of a drug debt run up by his niece, a court was told.

The High Court in Glasgow heard the late Thomas Sharkey's niece Lynette Stevens, 32, had run up a £1200 debt to Scott Snowden for cocaine.

Mr Sharkey's brother Ronald Stevens, 52, told prosecutor Alex Prentice QC that he went to him for help after Snowden allegedly made threats to the family.

Mr Stevens was giving evidence at the trial of Snowden, 37, and Robert Jennings, 50, who deny murdering Mr Sharkey, 55, his son 21-year-old Thomas junior and his eight-year-old daughter Bridget in July 24, 2011.

He said a deal was struck whereby £500 would be paid as a down payment and then £100 paid every fortnight.

Mr Stevens said: "I sold some scrap metal to raise £500."

The jury heard from one of Mr Stevens' daughters Donna Stevens, 29, who told the court she got threatening phone calls from Snowden. She said he phoned her because he couldn't get hold of her sister Lynette, who had left Helensburgh.

Donna Stevens was asked what Snowden had said in these calls and replied: "He said he was going to rip my sister's face off."

Mr Stevens told the court that he gave the £500 to Mr Sharkey senior who handed it over.

Snowden and Jennings deny all the charges against them.

The trial continues.