Jenny Methven murder trial: Murder accused’s wife breaks down in tears as she recalls day of arrest

THE wife of murder accused William Kean broke down in tears as she recounted how her husband was detained during a visit to a garden centre.

Kean, 46, is accused of killing Jenny Methven, 80, who was found battered to death in her home at Forteviot, Perthshire, on 20 February.

Mary Kean said that her 
husband had been admitted to hospital following an apparent suicide bid on 19 March.

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On 29 March she visited him at Murray Royal Hospital in Perth and he was allowed to 
go out to a nursery in Scone, Perthshire, with her.

Defence QC Brian McConnachie said: “Was it while 
you were there that Billy was detained by the police?” She 
replied: “Yes.”

Mr McConnachie said: “Is that where he has been ever since?” Mrs Kean cried as she replied: “Yes.”

She was then asked: “Had 
you anticipated that the police were going to arrest him,” and she replied: “No.”

Mr McConnachie then said: “Did it come as a shock to you,” and Mrs Kean said: “Yes, very much.”

She was asked whether her husband had ever been in trouble with the police. She said that eight years ago he was caught using his mobile phone while he drove.

Mrs Kean told the jury that from 20 February, the day Mrs Methven died, until 19 March, when her husband was hospitalised after an apparent suicide bid, she had not noticed anything unusual about him.

Mr McConnachie asked: 
“During all that time there was nothing in Billy’s behaviour which led you to think there 
was something untoward in his behaviour, that he was anxious or guilty about having committed a murder?” She replied: “No.”

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Mrs Kean described her husband of 15 years as quiet, reserved and private person.

While re-examining Mrs Kean, prosecutor Alex Prentice said: “Do you know that it is a matter of agreement in this case that Mr Kean touched the lower right arm of Jenny Methven on the day she died. Did he ever tell you that?” She replied: “No.”

Earlier she was shown a pair of dark blue cord trousers and said that one day – she couldn’t remember exactly when – her husband came home and said he had spilled something on them at work.

Mrs Kean, a mother-of-one, said she told him they were ruined and to put them in the recycling bin in the garage. The jury has heard that the trousers were found by police in the eaves of Kean’s garage.

DC Rosemary Reid, 38, who was the first CID officer on the scene, told the court it was 
odd that despite the amount 
of blood and Mrs Methven’s 
injuries her glasses were not damaged or blood-spattered.

This was despite the fact there was blood running down Mrs Methven’s face and her left eye was black.

DC Reid said it was possible that the glasses had been put on Mrs Methven’s face after she had been attacked.

The CID officer said that she spoke to Mrs Methven’s son David, who found her body in the kitchen of the cottage they shared when he came home from work after 5pm.

She said she found him devoid of emotion and showing no signs of grief.

Kean denies murdering Mrs Methven and has lodged a special defence blaming her son David Methven.