So why did one grandmother's videotaped bus ride become so engaging and emotional for thousands of people she has never met, prompting them to issue emotional pleas to police and to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars?

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Mr Coats told the court that he travelled almost daily down to West Kilbride to see her between 14 and 26 April and was told by Smith and Parker three days later, when he met them by chance in Largs, that she had left and gone to Dumfries.

BBC: Lynda Spence

Minutes later she met two female friends and paused briefly to chat with them in Hamilton Way.

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The phone calls from Aesha began soon after Mati and Jamila met her in July, when she had regaled and delighted them with her humor and stories.

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They met with all the major players, and Rice said that she told them all exactly the same thing: get this done.

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