The son of murdered pensioner Jenny Methven has always anticipated he would know her killer, according to a close friend.
David Methven confided in a fellow member of the local Masonic lodge to say that the date of the tragedy was ”very significant”, but only to those closely associated with him.
The source, who asked not to be named, spoke to The Courier as police wait to question a Blairgowrie businessman in connection with the 80-year-old’s brutal death.
Officers swooped on William Kean’s family bungalow on Thursday as part of what was described as a ”significant development” in the case.
However, the 46-year-old, who previously owned a car valeting firm, is seriously ill in hospital.
Mr Methven found his mother with fatal wounds on Monday, February 20, when he returned home from work at around 5.15pm.
It is believed the injuries were inflicted by a blunt instrument, but a murder weapon has still to be traced.
The friend of Mr Methven said he believed Mr Kean had once worked for the self-employed tree surgeon, who lived with his mother at Kildinny Farm by Forteviot.
He called Mr Methven a ”good man”, saying he would always try to help others.
”He was a fellow Mason and has leant me money in the past when I was in need,” he said.
”Monday was a very significant day for him, so he thought whoever was responsible for the murder must have known him.
”He is understandably in an awful state and just wants to be able to have a proper funeral for his mum, they were so close.
”The crime shocked the entire community and people have shown their support for David.”
He added: ”I don’t know William Kean but I know he worked with David in his tree business a little while back.”
Another local resident described seeing Mr Methven walking arm in arm with his mother at the start of February.
She said: ”They were joined at the hip and did everything together David doted on Jenny.
”I’ve seen him recently in and around Dunning where his yard is. He’s gone back to work, which is really admirable.”
Staff at the Kirkstyle Inn in Dunning, where the pair dined every Monday night, said police attended the premises soon after the crime was confirmed as a murder.
Summing up the mood among elderly Strathearn Valley homeowners, a customer at the inn revealed he is house-sitting for a local pensioner who fled the area scared for her own life.