Jenny murder accused lodges special defence of incrimination
Aug 9 2012
by Alison Lowson, Blairgowrie Adv
A BLAIRGOWRIE man accused of murdering 80-year-old pensioner Jenny Methven in her own home is blaming her son for her death.
William Kean (46), Gallowbank Road, denies murdering Mrs Methven by striking her repeatedly on the head and body with a blunt instrument at 4 Kildinny Farm Cottage, Forteviot, on February 20, 2012.
Yesterday (Tuesday) at the High Court in Glasgow, Kean – who is represented by QC Brian McConnachie – lodged a special defence of incrimination against Mrs Methven’s son David Methven or others unknown who are connected to him.
In a joint minute read to the court, the jury of six men and nine women were told Mrs Methven died from brain injuries and blunt force trauma.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC said: “In this case it has been possible to agree a number of facts which has the consequences of cutting down court time.”
The joint minute of agreement between Mr Prentice and defence QC Brain McConnachie QC was read out to the jury by Crown junior Robert Frazer.
The court also heard that Mrs Methven’s blood was found on a pair of Kean's cordorouy trousers.
A bloodied fingerprint of Kean was found on a phone handset in Mrs Methven's kitchen.
It is also agreed by the prosecution and defence that Kean touched Mrs Methven's lower right arm on the day she died – February 20, 2012.
He also had the use of a silver Peugeout 206 that day.
Kean is also accused of stealing around £15,000 from her home on September 14, last year.
It is also alleged he attempted to defeat the ends of justice between February 20 and March 28, 2012 by pouring bleach onto a pair of bloodstained trousers, cutting a pocket from the trousers and then hiding then in the eaves of a garage in Blairgowrie.
Kean is also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice between March 13 and 19 by failing to turn up at Perth Police HQ to have his fingerprints taken for elimination purposes and repeatedly cutting his fingertips and palms to prevent police taking usable samples.
Judge Lord Glennie told the jury: “This case may last up to 10 days, but it is difficult to be certain.”
