Police Scotland has welcomed the conviction at the High Court in Aberdeen today of Siobhan Russell (30), who killed Marie Low (36) in Dundee last year.
Siobhan Russell was found guilty of culpable homicide.
Detective Inspector Brian Geddes of the Major Investigation Team said: “A young mother’s life has been tragically cut short and our thoughts remain with Marie’s family during this difficult time. I hope that today’s conviction provides some level of closure for them.
“I would like to thank members of the local community in Dundee who assisted at the scene of this tragic incident and those who came forward after our appeal for witnesses.”
Russell, 30, denied the charge, submitting a special defence of self-defence – stating that she had been defending herself after being attacked in the deceased and her eldest daughter Jamie-Lee at the time.
The jury returned their verdict by majority at 2.55pm today – finding Russell guilty of culpable homicide.
The charge was that she assaulted Marie Low, pulled her by the hair and struck her on the body with a knife and killed her. The jury ruled that she did so without provocation.
Russell will return to the court in January for sentencing.
Jurors heard five days of evidence and then closing speeches from solicitors before coming to their verdict.
The trial centred around a confrontation between Russell and her victim on September 4 last year, outside of the accused’s Ballantrae Terrace flat.
According to witnesses, the pair had been involved in confrontations – including two alleged fist fights – in the days prior to the incident.
The court heard that Ms Low attended the property, along with daughter Jamie-Lee, 18, and a fight broke out – with Ms Low suffering a stab wound injury that eventually led to her death.
Russell’s defence team – headed by solicitor advocate Iain Cameron – argued that Russell had been defending herself during an attack from the deceased and Jamie-Lee.
Advocate depute Alan Cameron maintained that the evidence of the case showed that Russell had not acted in self defence stating that she had willingly involved herself in a confrontation and had taken the knife from her home – and subsequently used it.
https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/dundee-murder-trial-verdict-siobhan-russell-guilty-killing-marie-low/
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