Former soldier who killed Paisley charity worker rejected help for anger issues, court hears

A former soldier who killed his lover once snubbed meetings to help with apparent anger issues, a court heard.

Gary Brown branded those involved as a “cardigan-wearing brigade” who did not understand ex-servicemen.

The 55 year-old was giving evidence for a second day at his trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Brown denies murdering Alyson Watt at her home in Paisley, Renfrewshire on June 2 2017.

He admits killing the 52 year-old Barnardo's worker, but claims he was suffering an “abnormality of the mind” at the time.

Jurors heard Brown met with a doctor in 2009 and was later referred for anger management.

Asked about this, Brown said: “It seemed to be the same cardigan wearing brigade who had no idea what I was going through.

“Intellectual people who had no idea what a guy in the army had gone through.

“I got the feeling that there was nothing out there to deal with my problems. I did not attend any of them.”

The court has heard how Miss Watt was stabbed 42 times. Brown also used a hammer to attack a 16 year-old boy who stayed with her.

The couple had issues prior to the killing amid claims Miss Watt may have kissed another man.

Brown said he had felt “100% different” towards Miss Watt than he had any of his previous lovers.

He believed he would have ended up marrying her.

His QC Brian McConnachie asked how he had then felt as their relationship came to an end.

Brown: “I felt let down and that nothing seemed to ever go right.”

Mr McConnachie put to Brown had he thought about the events of June 2 last year since the killing.

He replied: “Every second of every day. It is indescribable. I feel like a total shell. I lost myself that day.”

Prosecutor Michael Meehan later suggested to Brown that he was someone with a “short fuse”.

But, Brown denied that claim.

The ex-squaddie denies murder and trying to kill the 16 year-old boy.

The trial, before Lord Summers, continues