New mother fit for murder trial

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A woman accused of murdering her mother will be fit to stand trial after giving birth to a baby girl behind bars.

Lisa Brown was excused from an earlier court appearance because she was heavily pregnant.

Her lawyer told the latest hearing there was no reason why the trial, fixed for June, should not go ahead.

The 21-year-old, and her boyfriend, John Wilson, 25, are charged with murdering Anne Brown and dumping her body in an Ayrshire burn last October.

The new mother's defence lawyer, Frances McMenamin QC, told the hearing that her client, who is on remand at Cornton Vale prison, gave birth on 4 April to a baby girl.

She added: "One of the reasons (for this hearing) was to continue to check her health.

"There is no reason why the trial date that has been fixed should not remain."

It also emerged that Mr Wilson intends to incriminate Brown for the crime.

Defeating justice

Ms Brown and Mr Wilson are alleged to have murdered Mrs Brown by striking her on the head and body with a blunt object or objects at Laigh Gree, Burnhouse, Ayrshire, on 18 October.

It is claimed they then attempted to defeat the ends of justice by transporting the body in a car, hiding it in a sleeping bag and builder's bag, then weighing it down with stones and bricks before placing it in Clerkland Burn.

Ms Brown is further charged with assaulting Anne Elliot at a house in Fenwick, Ayrshire, in February 2005.

The pair deny all charges. They are due to appear for a further hearing later this month before the trial in June.