Murder accused took detectives to 'grave'

Published on Wednesday 18 February 2009 20:57

A FORMER French Foreign Legionnaire led detectives to the shallow woodland "grave" of a missing 87-year-old woman, a court heard yesterday.

John Lawson, 48, had been taken in by police to be questioned about Dolina MacLean's car after he was found sleeping rough in the vehicle.

Initially, he insisted he had bought the Vauxhall Astra and knew nothing of Miss MacLean's disappearance, but later confessed to abducting her at a superstore car park and making her drive him into the country.

He said they stopped at a layby and Miss MacLean stumbled and fell. He realised she was dead and left her body to the elements for a few days, before burying it and planting a tree on her "grave".

He added: "The only thing I was wanting to do was take the vehicle. I was desperate to go and see my son. I was not intending to do any harm to her."

Lawson denies murdering Miss MacLean, of Stanley, Perth-shire, on 30 May last year, and attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of her body.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Miss MacLean had been reported missing, and police found her car in a car park in Coupar Angus on 14 June.

The trial continues.