Court told alleged Kilmarnock murder victim was burnt beyond recognition
William Kelly is accused of covering his mother Cathy in petrol and setting her on fire.
A court’s heard alleged murder victim Cathy Kelly was so badly burnt police couldn’t tell if she was a man or a woman.
Watch manager Gordon Cairns was giving evidence at the trial of 41-year-old William Kelly who denies murdering his mother by punching and kicking her then pouring petrol over her and setting her on fire at their Kilmarnock home on February 11.
At the High Court in Glasgow Mr Cairns told prosecutor Ashley Edwards QC that he performed CPR on Mrs Kelly after she was rescued from the house by fellow firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.
Miss Edwards asked him: “Could you tell if it was a man or a woman,” and Mr Cairns replied: “No, her hair was missing and the clothes were kind of burnt, fragile. When I went to touch the clothes they just disintegrated that's what I mean by fragile.”
Earlier firefighter William Milroy told the jury how he and colleague Ross Campbell rescued Mrs Kelly.
He said they were in the second fire appliance and the fire was out by the time they arrived at the scene, but the house was filled with smoke.
Mr Milroy said that he felt his way into the living room and located Mrs Kelly who was lying face down on the floor.
He said: “I reached out and gave her a little shake and said 'I'm a firefighter,' and got no reaction.
Miss Edwards asked the firefighter if he noticed anything about Mrs Kelly and he replied: “I could see the back of her head was badly singed and her back was badly burned and her clothing was a bit melted. She was badly burned mostly her legs and back.
The jury was told that the firefighters rolled Mrs Kelly onto her back and Mr Milroy said: “I noticed her face was swollen. Her eyes were bulging and her tongue was swollen.”
He added: “I hadn't seen anything like that before. Usually we see smoke round the mouth and nose.
The court heard that the firefighters carried Mrs Kelly out of the back of the house and carried out first aid on her.
The trial before judge Lady Stacey continues.