Woman killed neighbour in hammer and knife attack days before Christmas

A killer brutally murdered her neighbour in a hammer and knife attack.

Claire Kilduff bludgeoned and stabbed Ann Coll to death, having also taken more than £300 from the popular grandmother’s bank account.

The 40-year-old later went on to make a 999 call that she had found the 61-year-old in a pool of blood, having gone to her flat in Rutherglen days before Christmas 2023.

She now faces a life sentence after pleading guilty to murder at the High Court in Glasgow.

Prosecutor Gavin Dewar told how the women had been both friends and neighbours.

They often walked their dogs together near where they stayed in Newfield Place, Rutherglen, including shortly before the murder.

Kilduff had gone to Ann’s that night to watch television.

Murder probe launched after death of 61-year-old Ann Coll Police Scotland

Mr Dewar said the killer was what was described as “financially embarrassed” at the time, owing cash to unnamed others.

The court heard that Kilduff – who knew how to access Ann’s banking app – arranged that evening to transfer £320 from the victim’s account into her own.

Ann – who lived alone with her dog Lola – was on benefits at the time.

Mr Dewar said the murder went on to take place sometime between around 7.30pm and 12.50am the next morning.

Explaining the ferocity of the attack, he told the court: “Kilduff repeatedly struck Ann Coll with a hammer, causing extensive blunt force trauma injuries to the head and neck.

“The blows caused extensive fractures to Ann Coll’s skull. Kilduff repeatedly stabbed her with a knife.”

The killer went on to dial 999 herself.

During a call, a breathless and crying Kilduff stated: “I have come up and found my neighbour in a pool of blood and she is not breathing.”

Emergency crews arrived to find Ann in her bedroom, but she could not be saved.

Mr Dewar said the mum-of-three had suffered at least 21 blows to the head.

This resulted in multiple fractures. Ann also had seven stab wounds to the neck, back and side of the chest.

Kilduff had been found sitting in the common close when police turned up after the murder.

However, it was not until February 2024 that she was arrested.

Police had earlier launched an appeal for help in trying to solve the killing.

During the probe, mum-of-one Kilduff’s phone was examined.

The court heard she made a number of Google searches on the night of the attack.

These included “deadliest stab wounds”, “stab wound to the neck”, “hammer to head injury” and “killed by single blow to head”.

Others later that night were “killed by my debt” and “killed by single blow to head”.

Police went on to find incriminating items having been alerted to an underfloor cavity area in Kilduff’s flat in November 2024 – almost a year after the murder.

The hammer and knife were discovered – the weapons had Kilduff’s DNA on them as well as traces of Ann’s blood.

Kilduff had been due to stand this week before admitting her guilt.

She had previously lodged a special defence via her lawyers, blaming another woman – a prosecution witness – for the killing.

Mr Dewar told the court Ann was “a much-loved parent, grandparent and friend” who was “greatly missed”, particularly by her children.

Gary Allan KC, defending, said Kilduff “cannot explain” what she did, but had “expressed sorrow” for the killing.

Lord Arthurson adjourned the case for sentencing. Kilduff remains in custody.