The sister of tragic Dundee woman Mary McLaren appeared in court on a knife charge, amid claims she has become involved in criminal activity and problem drinking due to the appalling events surrounding Mary’s death almost a year ago.
On the same day the man accused of murdering Mary had a date for his trial fixed at a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh, Michelle Rodger (27), Cumnock Place, appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court to plead guilty to possessing a knife and uttering threats of violence.
The court heard Rodger, who had no convictions before her sister’s death, has appeared in court on several occasions since her sister’s body was found in shrubbery on North Marketgait, Dundee, on March 10 last year.
Solicitor John Boyle told the court whether it was due to “anger, grief or guilt,” Rodger’s behaviour had changed since the tragic events of February 25, when Mary disappeared after the pair had been out together in Dundee city centre.
Rodger admitted that on January 14, at Longhaugh Police Station, she behaved in a threatening or abusive manner, shouted and swore and threatened violence to others, and possessed a knife, while on bail.
Depute fiscal Kirsty Anderson told the court that Rodger had appeared at five to midnight at Longhaugh Police Station on Saturday, shouting and swearing.
Ms Anderson said, when Rodger was interviewed by officers, she had dropped her bag at one point and, when an officer went to pick it up, Rodger pulled the bag away and a knife fell out.
She said, “I’m going to kill that fat bitch up the road.”
However, when cautioned and charged she made no reply.
Mr Boyle told the court there was a “significant history” to the case.Tragedy”Miss Rodger is the sister of Mary McLaren,” he said, “who died in tragic circumstances last year. She was with her sister the night she died.
“She has only two previous convictions, but these offences stem from the period after her sister’s death.
“Whether it is because of anger, grief or guilt, it has affected her behaviour. There was nothing before that.”
He said Rodger was drinking, perhaps, “as a coping mechanism.”
Asking Sheriff Davidson to defer sentence for reports, he added, “She is certainly someone who would benefit from some form of intervention.”
Sheriff Davidson asked why she had been carrying a knife, and Mr Boyle said there had been an earlier incident that day involving another woman.
He said the woman was previously a friend of hers but they had fallen out and there had been “tit-for-tat” vandalism of each others’ houses.
In an incident at lunchtime between his client, the woman and others, the knife had been produced, “not by Miss Rodger.” However, she had grabbed the knife and kept it.
He said she had learning difficulties, although she had received any support for that since leaving school.
Ordering social inquiry, community service and restriction of liberty reports, Sheriff Davidson deferred sentence until February 14 and granted her bail, on condition that she attend the Right Track programme.