Accused 'told of missing mother'

Anne Brown's body was found lying in water last October

A woman believed her mother had "run off" on the night she is alleged to have killed her, a court has heard.

Lisa Brown told police she had gone to Anne Brown's Ayrshire home last October and found a young child inside alone.

The 21-year-old also said she did not report this at the time as she claimed it was not "unusual".

Lisa Brown and her boyfriend John Wilson, 25, deny murdering Anne Brown in Laigh Gree, Burnhouse, and dumping her body in Clerkland Burn.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how former nurse Anne Brown and a young child - who she and her daughter cared for - were reported missing on 24 October 2008.

Police attended a flat in the the city's Wyndford area, where they found the two accused and the child.

My inspector looked underneath without disturbing the package and could tell that it was a human body Sgt Ian Murray Strathclyde Police

Pc Joseph Gallacher told how he asked Ms Brown how the youngster had come to be with her.

The officer said: "She said herself and John Wilson had attended at her mum's address the previous Saturday.

"She said this was about nine in the evening. She had found the home unlocked and on entering had found the child alone in his cot.

"She had removed him and all three of them returned to the address in Wyndford."

Prosecutor Gary Allan QC asked: "Did you ask why she had not informed anyone of this peculiar information and that there had been no sign of her mum?"

The constable replied: "I asked why she had not contacted the police. She said that she believed her mum had simply ran off as she had done it before and did not find it unusual."

Body weighed down

The trial also heard how human remains were found submerged in a burn near Craignaught Farm, Ayrshire, after Anne Brown had been reported missing.

Sgt Ian Murray told how he and four colleagues lifted the heavy package, wrapped in a sleeping bag, builder's bag and a chain, from the water.

It was also believed to have been weighed down by bricks or rubble.

The officer added: "My inspector looked underneath without disturbing the package and could tell that it was a human body."

It is claimed that Lisa Brown and John Wilson struck Mrs Brown on the head and body with a blunt object or objects and that her daughter had previously "evinced malice and ill-will towards her".

Ms Brown and Mr Wilson are then alleged to have attempted to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of her body in the burn.

They are also accused of washing a quantity of bloodstained clothing which they wore at the time of the alleged attack.

The trial, before Judge Lord Matthews, continues.