Court hears murder accused "told party how she killed man by 'standing on his neck'"

A man has told a court how a murder accused told him during a festive party of how she killed a man by "standing on his neck".

John Patterson,39, said Sharyn Stewart,53, revealed she took the life of a man during a get together at a house in Pennan Road, Aberdeen on January 2 2018.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard Mr Patterson say that it was the first time he met Ms Stewart, who is standing trial for allegedly murdering Alan Cowie on the same day

He said that fellow party goers were cheerful and having a good time but Ms Stewart was "upset".

Mr Patterson, also of Aberdeen, told prosecution lawyer Angela Gray: "She looked a bit depressed. She came over and sat beside me.

"She told me that she had just killed someone. She had stood on his neck and put a bag over his head.

"I didn't believe it. I didn't know what to think. I thought she had been drinking. I was saying to her that everything would be okay."

Mr Patterson was giving evidence on the second day of proceedings against Ms Stewart, who denies murdering Mr Cowie and another charge of attempted murder.

Mr Patterson, who is unemployed, told Ms Gray that he arrived at his friend's house at approximately 10pm.

He said that people were drinking and having a good time but that Ms Stewart looked miserable.

He said that he started speaking to her because she looked depressed.

He said that after she allegedly made the remarks about killing the man, Ms Stewart started asking about petrol.

He added: "She was going on about petrol from the petrol station. She wanted to know how much petrol cost. She wanted to know what time you could be served petrol to."

When Ms Gray asked Mr Patterson why she wanted petrol, he replied: "It was because she was going to burn down his house.

"I took it was because she was wanting to get rid of evidence. I just said 'you can't go round burning down houses.'"

The court heard that Mr Patterson provided a witness statement to detectives who were investigating Mr Cowie's death.

Jurors heard that in the statement, Mr Patterson said Ms Stewart told him that the man she killed "lived next to her daughter".

Mr Patterson also said that although he didn't believe Ms Stewart's claims, he started to joke with her.

He said he suggested a way of disposing of the dead body.

Mr Patterson added: "I said something about rolling him up in a carpet 'cos it was better than burning the house down.

"I was joking."

Ms Stewart, whose address is given in legal documents as being a prisoner of HMP Grampian, has pleaded not guilty to two charges.

A legal document which has been given to jurors states that the accused is also known as Sharon Stewart.

Prosecutors claim that on April 18 2017 Ms Stewart attempted to murder Mr Cowie at his home in Alexander Terrace, Aberdeen, by pushing him and repeatedly kicking him on his head and body.

She also allegedly placed a plastic bag over his head and restricted his breathing.

The Crown also claims that on 2nd January 2018, Ms Stewart murdered Mr Cowie by striking him on the head and body with a bottle before knocking him to the ground.

It is also claimed that during this assault, Ms Stewart also stood on Mr Cowie's neck and restricted his breathing causing his death.

A statement of evidence which has agreed between prosecutors and Ms Stewart's lawyers also states that their client caused Mr Cowie's death by assaulting him.

Her lawyer Stephen O'Rourke QC has lodged a special defence which states that Ms Stewart didn't murder Mr Cowie because her "ability to determine or control her conduct was substantially impaired by reason of abnormality of mind."

The trial, before Lord Pentland, continues.