Mum murdered' man, 61

Published 9 Jun 2010 15:03

A BARRHEAD mum has gone on trial accused of murdering a 61-year-old man.

Elizabeth Shields, 33, denies murdering John Cook in the town on October 28 last year.

She refutes battering Mr Cook with a lamp base, a broken glass and a broken mug at his home in Henry Street.

Glasgow PC Steven Hyslop told the High Court in Glasgow yesterday that he was called to Mr Cook's flat in the early hours of the morning.

The 33-year-old revealed to prosecutor Alastair Carmichael that when he arrived at around 5.30am he saw murder accused Shields sitting on the stairs in the common close.

PC Hyslop said that inside the flat Mr Cook was lying dead in front of the television in the living room.

The policeman added that another man, Raymond Forrest, was lying on the floor and 'appeared to be sleeping'.

Hyslop said: "I believe he was sleeping due to intoxication.

"He appeared unconscious."

A third man, Graham Laidlaw, was on his knees shouting loudly whilst being restrained by two police officers.

PC Hyslop then informed the court that he returned to where Shields was sitting with one of his colleagues.

He added: "She was very weak and limp, rambling incoherently.

"She was in a bit of a state.

"The only thing I could make out was she claimed she felt sick."

The court heard how PC Hyslop and a colleague had been called to Shields' mother's home at Gertrude Place twice the day before.

He said that Shields' mother, Janice Agnew, 58, asked for her to be removed from the house.

Shields eventually left the home clutching three bags after initially refusing to leave the house.

She allegedly battered Mr Cook on the head and body with a lamp base, a broken glass and a broken mug as well as throwing a bottle at him.

It is also claimed that Shields pushed him on the body and struggled with him.

The trial continues.

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