Jury in pensioner murder trial retires to consider its verdict

Jenny Methven: The 80-year-old pensioner was found dead at her home in Perthshire.

The jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering a pensioner has retired to consider its verdict.

William Kean, 46, denies murdering 80-year-old Jenny Methven at her home in Forteviot, Perthshire, on February 20.

The two-week trial reached its final stages on Monday with the jury of nine women and six men retiring to consider a verdict shortly after 11am.

Judge Lord Glennie told the jury that this was not a murder mystery. He also told the jury to take as much time as they needed to reach their verdict.

On Friday the High Court in Glasgow heard closing speeches from Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC and defence QC Brian McConnachie.

Mr Prentice urged the jury to convict Kean, of Blairgowrie.

Beaten

Addressing the jury at the High Court in Glasgow, Mr Prentice said: "Was murder committed, was Jenny Methven murdered? I suggest the answer to that would be unanimously yes.

"Mrs Methven was beaten round the head with a blunt instrument. The back of her skull is fractured and pieces of bone entered her brain and she died.

"The second question is who did murder her and I will be inviting you to convict Mr Kean."

The court has heard that Mrs Methven’s body was found by her son David Methven when he returned home from work at around 5.10pm.

The prosecutor said that Kean’s DNA was found on Mrs Methven’s wrist and a fingerprint in blood was found on the wall phone beside her body.

His mobile phone also put him in the vicinity of her cottage on the morning of February 20 and his was seen on CCTV heading in that direction.

Mr Prentice said: "This was a savage, brutal murder and we may never know what the motive was."

CSI generation

However, defence QC Brian McConnachie told the jury they had to base their decision on evidence and not try to solve the case themselves.

He said: "The one thing that will constantly be repeated in your head is the word why?

"The Crown in this case are relying on the CSI generation. They are looking to show you the fingerprint, the DNA and the blood. That’s the golden ticket, that’s the crime solved. This is not a whodunit or a murder mystery.

"There is no evidence of any blood on him or in the car. He meets people an hour later in Broughty Ferry and he’s not covered in blood.

"There is not a single shred of evidence to provide you with why a shy, reserved private family man who has never been in trouble before would brutally murder an 80-year-old defenceless woman."

Kean denies murder and has lodged a special defence incriminating Mrs Methven's son, David Methven.

The trial in front of Lord Glennie continues.

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