A witness has claimed he saw a man grab “a blade” from the woman accused of murdering a Dundee mum before throwing it into a nearby garden following a fight.
Siobhan Russell is standing trial accused of striking 36-year-old Marie Low on the body with a knife at Ballantrae Terrace on September 4 last year.
The 30-year-old’s trial began on Tuesday at the High Court in Aberdeen and she denied the charges against her — lodging a special defence of self-defence.
Giving evidence via video link from Dundee Sheriff Court, 52-year-old Stewart Corrigan told the court that he had been at the home of Jim Gordon, his neighbour and carer, on the the day of Marie Low’s death.
He said that he did not know Ms Low but knew Siobhan Russell because she had moved into the same close as him a few months prior.
Mr Corrigan said he had heard “abusive language” being shouted outside the property and looked out the window to see a fight between two women.
Mr Corrigan claimed Russell and Ms Low engaged in two fights in quick succession.
He said: “The second time was a serious fight – they were punching and rolling about on the floor.
“It was broken up again but this time one was covered in blood – the one that I didn’t know – on her front.”
The court previously heard evidence that Ms Low and two other people had engaged in the fight, however Mr Corrigan said that he did not see anyone else involve themselves – other than the “young lad” who he said he saw take the blade from Russell and throw it in a nearby garden.
He added: “I saw him go across and take something from Siobhan – it was a silver thing and it looked like a blade.
“It was almost like he panicked – and threw it away.”
Mr Corrigan said that he witnessed Ms Low clutching her stomach and falling to the ground, before Russell “legged it” into her property.
He said that he did not see her again until police officers brought her out of her flat later that day.
Yesterday’s evidence was delayed as parties involved in proceedings were delayed on their way to court due to bad weather.
On Wednesday the court heard evidence from Ballantrae Terrace resident Christina Duncan, 29, who said she saw a blood-soaked Ms Low being taken into an ambulance after a brawl with Russell.
Ms Duncan told the court that she had seen Ms Low, along with a child, “marching” down the street towards Russell’s home shouting her name. She said she then saw Russell come out of the close with a knife in her hand.
Ms Duncan claimed Ms Low approached Russell, who backed away, and then saw the accused make swiping motions towards her.
The witness said Ms Low, the child, and an unknown woman then attacked Russell – with the youngster kicking the accused “so hard in the face” that she felt sick.
Ms Duncan said: “I saw blood on Marie’s white top – it was on her left side near her tummy.
“She was on top of Siobhan kicking her and punching her, who was just lying there, curled up trying to protect her face.”
Another witness, 53-year-old bakery manager Alexandra Duncan, said had seen the deceased leave her close and approach Russell’s close at a fast pace shouting “Siobhan”.
She said: “I could see that she was holding something because she was only using two fingers to put her hair up.”
Russell, formerly of Ballantrae Terrace, faces two charges — one of behaving in a threating manner to Ms Low and another of murdering the deceased with a knife or similar instrument.
The trial continues.
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