The partner of a woman accused of murdering a Dundee mum has claimed that her alleged victim brandished a knife at them days before her death.
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 appeared on Tuesday at the High Court in Aberdeen and denied the charges against her.
Russell has lodged a special defence of self-defence.
Giving evidence, 29-year-old James Duncan, who had been in a relationship with Russell for six months, also claimed that Ms Low had struck him on the face with a key in the days before her death.
Mr Duncan said that Ms Low had told him Russell had been engaging in prostitution.
He said that the two had previously been on good terms, but their relationship had deteriorated and they had been involved in a number of confrontations.
Mr Duncan said that he and Russell attended Ms Low’s address on two occasions the day after the revelation.
He claimed that the first visit was to “put a stop to the fighting” and that he was going along in a bid to keep the peace.
Mr Duncan told the court that an argument erupted and the couple left.
Later on, Mr Duncan claimed they had returned to the home, but that Ms Low had greeted them at the door with a knife and threatened them.
Mr Duncan said Ms Low had made “stabbing motions” towards the accused.
Mr Duncan then told the court that he and Russell had gone to shops on nearby Ballindean Terrace where they had bumped into the deceased.
He said that Ms Low approached him and began to gesticulate angrily towards him before striking him with the key on the face.
Neighbour Carol Pluck, 59, who has lived in the Douglas area for 36 years, also told the court that she had seen the altercation from the veranda of her home.
Ms Pluck said she saw Ms Low “going for him” while Russell was “standing there, not doing anything”.
That evening, Ms Pluck said she saw Russell outside Ms Low’s block of flats and the two women were “arguing”.
The court heard earlier that the accused and Mr Duncan had attended Ms Low’s home the day after Mr Duncan had confronted Russell about the prostitution claims.
Russell had denied the rumours.
Examining Mr Duncan, advocate depute Alan Cameron read back the statement he made to police officers following Ms Low’s death.
Mr Cameron said that on September 2, Mr Duncan told Russell he had heard that she was prostituting herself.
Mr Cameron added: “Do you remember hearing about that?
“Do you remember telling Siobhan Russell about it?”
Mr Duncan said: “She denied it. She wasn’t happy with it being said.
“She took it offensively. She said that she would never do that.
“It isn’t something that she would do.”
Mr Duncan said he did not believe Russell wanted to take the matter further, but admitted the defendant told him she would speak to Ms Low about the claims.
Russell, formerly of Ballantrae Terrace, faces two charges.
The first alleges she behaved in a threatening or abusive manner towards Ms Low by uttering threats towards her on September 2 and September 3 2016.
The second accuses Russell of stabbing Ms Low to death with a knife or similar instrument on September 4.
The trial continues.
Today’s Tele Late Extra has more news on this court case.
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