Three face dismembering charges

Laura Milne's body was found in a flat in Union Street

Two women and a man have appeared in court charged with murdering a teenager in Aberdeen and hiding her partly dismembered body.

The body of Laura Milne, 19, was found in a flat in Union Street in December.

Debbie Buchan and Leigh Mackinnon, both 18, and Stuart Jack, 22, are alleged to have murdered her, tied up her body in a bin bag and hidden it in a cupboard.

They made no plea when they appeared from custody at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The charges allege that the three accused removed Ms Milne's spectacles and some of her clothing, repeatedly punched, kicked and stamped on her, hit her on the head with a bottle and slashed her with a knife.

Bank card

They also face a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by trying to cut off her head, legs and breast, cutting off her ear and hiding the body in the plastic bag and bedding.

It is further alleged they hid Ms Milne's clothes in a loft and used her mobile phone to send text messages, pretending they were from the dead teenager.

Ms Buchan and Mr Jack are also accused of using her bank card to try to withdraw money from an Aberdeen cash machine.

Laura Milne's family said in a statement at the time of her death: "We are extremely distressed by the death of Laura who we loved dearly and will miss dreadfully."

The three accused will return to court in May.