Man accused of Janet Methven murder scarred own fingertips - court hears

By JOHN ROBERTSON
Published on 21/07/2012 00:33

A MAN has been accused of scarring his fingers and palms to try to cover up his involvement in the murder of a widowed pensioner in her isolated cottage.

William Kean, 46, denies killing Janet Methven, 80, and attempting to pervert the course of justice by cutting his fingertips and palms after police began taking elimination fingerprints from witnesses. He blames her son for the murder.

Kean made his first appearance in public at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday and faced four charges. A trial was fixed for next month.

It is alleged that Kean stole £15,000 at Mrs Methven’s home, Kildinny Farm Cottage, on the outskirts of the Perthshire

village of Forteviot, on 14 September last year. He is accused of murdering her on 20 February this year by striking her repeatedly on the head and body with a blunt instrument.

The indictment against Kean then alleges an attempt to defeat the ends of justice between 20 February and 28 March by intending to conceal and destroy evidence linking him to Mrs Methven’s death.

It is said that he poured bleach on the bloodstained trousers he had worn while committing the murder, and cut a pocket from the trousers, before concealing them within the eaves of a garage at a property in Blairgowrie.

The final charge, of attempting to pervert the course of justice, was allegedly committed between 13 and 19 March. It claims that Kean “being conscious of your guilt” knew that police were investigating the crime and obtaining elimination fingerprints.

Advocate depute, Alex Prentice, QC, confirmed that the Crown was ready to go to trial.

Lord Bracadale fixed trial for 6 August.