Trial told of note saying 'Mum dead in garage'

A SON accused of killing his mother was found clutching a piece of paper with the phrase "Mum dead in garage" written on it, a jury has heard.

Mark McDonald was asked to give police a list of his mother's friends when concern grew about her welfare and he produced a piece of paper he had written on.

He ripped the paper in half and gave one piece to Tayside Police Sergeant John Bowman while holding onto the other piece and trying to hide it behind his back.

Sgt Bowman, 46, reached forward to take the second piece from him and discovered it made reference to his mother being dead, a funeral director and a cemetery plot.

When officers went to Veronica Reid's home a short time later they found her cold and lifeless body lying in a pool of blood in the locked garage. A knife and a wooden stake were found in the garage.

Sgt Bowman told the High Court in Perth: "He ripped the paper in half and handed me a piece of paper. It had writing on it I didn't quite understand.

"He kept the other half in his right hand and placed it behind his back. I leaned forward and took it from him. There were four statements on there."

He told the court the note read: "Funeral directors - Sturrock, Coombe & Davidson. Mum dead in garage at 16 Kelso Place. Plot number Balgay. Leave house to Dad."

McDonald claimed he was being targeted by the Mafia and appeared to be suffering from paranoid delusions. He turned up at Carseview psychiatric centre on the evening of 31 July looking dishevelled and being morose and uncommunicative, staff told the trial.

McDonald, 42, State Hospital, Carstairs, is alleged to have killed Veronica McDonald aka Reid at 16 Kelso Place in Dundee on 31 July

He denies the charge on the grounds of insanity and the trial before Lord Malcolm continues.