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An expert on violent crimes has described the murder of Jenny Methven as a situation that ”spiralled out of control”.
Consultant forensic psychologist Ian Stephen, who was an adviser on the television drama Cracker, believes Mrs Methven was not meant to die.
In response to claims that the 80-year-old was found at her kitchen table with cloths over her head, he revealed this is an indication that something went wrong.
”Most people, having attacked someone, would just run,” Mr Stephen said. ”But if she was found as has been reported, it’s as if she’d been struck while she sat at the table, or maybe even helped there.
”It’s as if the killer realised how far things had gone and had tried to stem the bleeding, hoping she’d be found in time to save her. It could be a robbery gone wrong, but whoever did this wasn’t a professional thief.”
It has now been over four weeks since Mrs Methven’s body was discovered in her cottage near Forteviot.
Although 80 police officers have been working on the baffling case, they are still no closer to a breakthrough.
There have been theories that the pensioner’s death is linked to a recent spate of break-ins and jewellery thefts in Perthshire, but there was no sign of forced entry to Kildinny Cottage and nothing was stolen.
Mrs Methven also cut short a phonecall to a friend because she had heard a vehicle in the drive, but was not expecting any visitors.
According to Mr Stephen, this incident is a rarity, as from his experience murders don’t usually happen ”out of the blue” and an attack on a defenceless old woman is still very much taboo.
”Most murders are between people who know each other, ” he said. ”Very rarely are they out-of-the-blue killings. The police will have had to eliminate family and people in the vicinity, but once they’ve done that they could simply be left with nothing to go on.”
Anyone with any information that may assist the inquiry is urged to call the incident room on 01738 892925 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.