Witness saw murder accused William Kelly 'hurting his mother' on the night of her death
The 41-year-old is accused of dousing Cathy Kelly in petrol and setting her on fire
Last updated 7th Dec 2017
A man has told a jury that he saw murder accused William Kelly hurting his mother shortly before she died.
James Banks, 24, from Ayrshire, was giving evidence at the trial of Kelly, 41, who denies murdering his 71-year-old mother Cathy Kelly at their home in Kilmaurs Road, Kilmarnock, on February 11, by pouring petrol on her and setting her on fire.
Mr Banks told prosecutor Ashley Edwards QC that Kelly and his mother were guests at his brother's 21st birthday party in a bar in Crosshouse.
Miss Edwards asked Mr Banks: “How did William appear,” and he replied: “Just weird. He was kind of growling and making faces.”
The witness was then asked how Kelly was with his mother and he replied: “Right up close to her face – angry and whispering.”
Miss Edwards then asked: “What was Cathy's reaction to that,” and she replied: “As the night went on she started getting at bit more scared.”
Mr Banks said that when a taxi was called for Kelly and his mother he saw them leave together.
Miss Edwards asked: “What was he doing,” and the witness replied: “I saw him hurting Cathy intentionally. I saw anger in his face. He was doing a twisting kind of thing at the back of her hair. It's not the way to help your mother out of a pub.”
Mr Banks was asked how he would describe it and replied: “Rough, really rough. I lost my temper at William. I said: 'What are you doing with your mum, ya p***k.'
“I was really angry. I wanted to hit him. He said: 'I'm just helping her into the taxi, it's alright.' He wasn't angry towards me.”
Mr Banks said that before the taxi left he said to Kelly: 'I'll see you the morro, ya p***k,' and he said: “You'll no see me.”
The High Court in Glasgow has heard that Mrs Kelly died later that night.
The trial before Judge Lady Stacey continues.