Accused's e-mail discussed mother

A woman accused of murdering her mother sent an e-mail to a former boyfriend which mentioned "knocking her out", a court has heard.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how Lisa Brown made the claim in an e-mail to James Martin the month before Anne Brown was killed.

Ms Brown, 21, and her boyfriend John Wilson, 25, deny murdering Anne Brown in Laigh Gree, Burnhouse, last October.

They also deny dumping her body in Clerkland Burn in North Ayrshire.

The court was told that Mr Martin - a yacht skipper - contacted police last November during the inquiry into Anne Brown's death.

"I may just go down myself and knock my mum out and take the child, drive her car and collect a taxi"

He forwarded e-mails exchanged between himself and Lisa Brown to Sgt Catriona Henderson.

In one dated 4 September, Ms Brown - called Lisa Elliot in the e-mails - refers to custody of a young child that she and her mother looked after.

She stated to Mr Martin: "May ask police in Glasgow to help or ask a family law lawyer.

"Or I may just go down myself and knock my mum out and take the child, drive her car and collect a taxi.

"What do you think I should do? I can drive, but just not legally."

The court also heard about an interview police carried out with Ms Brown after her mother was reported missing.

Strained relationship

Sgt Henderson said: "Lisa was quick to point out that her relationship with her mum was not as good as it could have been."

Ms Brown also alleged she once sent an e-mail to co-accused Mr Wilson claiming she wished him dead to please her mother, who did not approve of her relationship with him.

When officers later detained Ms Brown in connection with her mother's death, Sgt Henderson claimed she gave "no reaction".

It is claimed 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.

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