A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a 97-year-old Fife woman.
Sandeep Patel made no plea when he appeared in private at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Monday afternoon.
He was arrested on Friday following an investigation into the death of Annie Temple in Kinglassie.
Patel, 36, whose address was given as Fife, faces a murder charge and an allegation of fraud.
He was remanded in custody and the case was committed for further examination.
Patel is expected to make a further court appearance within the next week.
Ms Temple was found dead at her home in the village’s West End by police officers on October 25 after concerns had been raised for her welfare.
Known locally as Nan, she was believed to have been Kinglassie’s oldest resident.
The village became the focus of intense police activity in the days that followed.
Officers conducted door to door inquiries and police vehicles were parked outside Ms Temple’s bungalow as investigations were carried out.
Neighbours reported seeing forensic teams and detectives in plain clothes entering and leaving the house.
Local businesses said officers had asked to view their CCTV footage.
Police remained stationed outside the property in West End weeks after Ms Temple’s body had been found.
Initially Police Scotland said the death was being treated as “unexplained”.
However, on Friday the force confirmed a 36-year-old man had been arrested as a result of their inquiries.
Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Jamieson, of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, thanked members of the public who had provided information.
“Local officers have been and will continue to be in the local area to provide reassurance,” he added.
One neighbour, who did not want to be named, described Ms Temple as “a nice old lady”.
The resident said she was understood to have stayed alone in the property and to have lived independently until very recently.
