Court hears of 'knock out' threat

A woman had an "abusive" relationship with her mother, whom she is accused of murdering, a court has heard.

Lisa Brown, 21, and her boyfriend John Wilson, 25, deny murdering Anne Brown and disposing of her body in a burn in North Ayrshire last October.

Ms Brown's former lover, yacht captain James Martin, was giving evidence to the trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

He also claimed she had mentioned "knocking out" her mother in a series of e-mails between the pair last year.

Mr Martin told the court how he met Lisa Brown in 2005 during a sail from France to Newcastle.

The pair had a brief "shipboard fling", but contact ended with Mr Martin claiming he found her "a bit clingy".

However, they later met again in 2007 and Ms Brown joined the 22-year-old on a sail in Ireland.

"Her mum had given her an ultimatum that she had to return home immediately and that she would be refused access to the child"

When asked about Ms Brown's relationship with her mother Mr Martin said Lisa Brown had referred to "abuse", and arguments between the pair.

He told the court he became aware of a dispute between Ms Brown and her mother over a young child that they cared for.

He said: "Her mum had given her an ultimatum that she had to return home immediately and that she would be refused access to the child and would not have a home. Lisa became very upset."

After the sail, the pair resumed contact by e-mail between July and October last year.

The jury heard a series of these exchanges including one where Ms Brown referred to "knocking my mum out" concerning their row over the child.

Prosecutor Gary Allan QC asked: "When you read that, were you concerned?"

Mr Martin: "Concerned that she may take action that was unnecessary."

Washing clothes

The trial earlier heard from a neighbour of both accused who told how they spent hours washing clothes in his home days after Anne Brown went missing.

William Stephen said he also spoke to Wilson about an injury to his hand.

Mr Stephen told the court: "He said that he had been bitten by a fox. He said that this was out at Lisa's mum's.

"The bandage did not look as if a nurse had put it on. It was lying too loose."

Anne Brown's body was found in Clerkland Burn in North Ayrshire.

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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