Pensioner appears in court accused of woman’s murder

Published on 30/10/2012 00:40

A PENSIONER has appeared in court in connection with the alleged murder of another woman.

Marlene Torlay, 61, was held by detectives after Marie McCracken was found dead in her semi-detached property.

Mrs McCracken, 59, a married mother of four, had been in Torlay’s home last Wednesday night when she died.

Police were called to the
incident in Old Coach Road, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, at around 10:45pm, but Mrs McCracken was already dead.

A murder inquiry was launched, and detectives said the incident was not being treated as a “random attack”.

Yesterday, Torlay appeared in private at Hamilton Sheriff Court, where she was represented by defence lawyer Ali Murray.

It is alleged she assaulted Mrs McCracken in her home on 24 October and threw boiling water over her.

It is further alleged she repeatedly punched her, hit her on the head with an object, and murdered her.

Torlay made no plea or
declaration and was remanded in custody.

She is expected to make a further court appearance in a week’s time.

Mrs McCracken had worked as a senior service assistant for the WRVS at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride for the past four years.