Abducted OAP may have died of fright

Published on Monday 23 February 2009 22:51

AN ELDERLY spinster may have been terrified to death after being abducted in her car, a court heard yesterday.

Dolina MacLean's body had clear symptoms of extreme stress over a prolonged period, which could have caused a fatal interruption of the rhythm of the heart, the High Court in Edinburgh was told.

Derrick Pounder, a pathologist, said: "It is exceptionally uncommon, but there are cases in the literature where people have been terrified to death."

John Lawson, 48, is accused of murdering Miss MacLean, 87, of Stanley, Perthshire, on 30 May last year and attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of the body.

The jury has heard that, in police interviews, Lawson admitted abducting Miss MacLean by jumping into her car in a supermarket car park in Perth and making her drive him into the countryside. He said he intended to leave her and steal the car, but claimed she stumbled and struck a gate. He told officers she died and he left the body covered in leaves before returning almost a week later, when he moved it to a secluded spot and buried it.

Prof Pounder said he and a colleague had carried out a post-mortem examination, but it was limited due to decomposition.

However, he said the most striking discovery had been tiny erosions, or ulcers, in the stomach caused by severe stress.

The advocate depute, Derek Ogg, QC, asked: "Although it is rare, it is a possibility that she is scared to death?"

Prof Pounder said: "I would not say scared, that is too mild. I would say terrified to death."

Reminded of Lawson's statement about Miss MacLean banging herself on a gate, Prof Pounder agreed the vagus nerve could have been struck. He said: "It is theoretically possible."

The trial continues.