TWO CHARGED WITH TRAGIC MUM CLAIRE’S HAMMER MURDER
MAN AND WOMAN IN COURT Pals reveal troubled victim had lost her three-week-old baby
A MAN and a woman have been charged with the murder of tragic mum Claire Turnbull.
Aaron Donald, 27, and Laura McMurdo, 29, are accused of hitting Claire on the head with a hammer.
The victim suffered heartbreak two years ago when her three-week-old daughter Violet-Ivy died.
Claire, 36, also had a four-year-old daughter.
Friend Maggie Bell said: “Her life was difficult but she tried to soldier on.”
FRIENDS of slain mum Claire Turnbull told yesterday how she had “been through enough” already after the death of her three-week-old baby.
A man and woman have appeared in court accused of murdering Claire Turnbull, punching her and hitting her on the head with a hammer.
It is the second devastating tragedy her family have had to deal with in recent years.
Her daughter Violet-Ivy died in a flat in Cupar two years ago this month.
Pal Maggie Bell paid tribute to Claire yesterday, saying: “The poor woman had been though enough. Claire never seemed to have a easy time of it.
“Her life was difficult and hard but she tried to soldier on, no matter how hard it got for her.
“Such a tragedy for her life to be taken in such a horrendous way.
“She will be sorely missed by many people from many different areas of Fife”.
Police found 5ft 6in Claire’s body at a flat in Rintoul Avenue, Blairhall, a village outside Dunfermline, on October 5 at 7.30pm.
The 36-year-old, who had a four-year-old daughter, was pronounced dead at the scene.
It is understood her child is being looked after by her gran, Claire’s mum Heather.
Claire, originally from Methil, had moved into a flat in Kinloss Crescent, Cupar, a few weeks before baby Violet-Ivy’s death in October 2014. Violet’s dad was Ryan McLachlan.
A post-mortem revealed no suspicious circumstances.
She had gone missing from her previous home in Kirkcaldy when she was five months pregnant and police appealed for sightings before she turned up safe.
A neighbour said at the time: “It is just so tragic. The worst bit was when the undertaker turned up. He went into the house with a baby’s Moses basket and came out a short time later.
“It was absolutely heartbreaking to watch.”
Another neighbour described the property where Violet-Ivy died as a “scatter flat” the council used to house people temporarily.
Other friends paid tribute to Claire following her death.
Laura Turnbull, who is unrelated,
Claire never had an easy time of it but she tried to soldier on MAGGIE BELL FRIEND
said: “Everyone knew Claire and she did not deserve this. Claire was a lovely, generous, lost soul. “This world was beyond cruel to her and still she shone bright. She saw no one below her although many chose to put her beneath them. I hope she’s at peace in a better place than this world ever was to her.” Debbie Dickson said: “Claire was a great lassie who had loads of pals. A poor wee lassie is left without a mum.” Aaron Donald, 27, and Laura McMurdo, 29, both from Blairhall, appeared in private at Dunfermline Sheriff Court yesterday and are both facing the same murder charge.
It is alleged that on October 5 at Rintoul Avenue, they assaulted Claire by seizing her by the throat, repeatedly punched her, repeatedly struck her on the head with a hammer and murdered her. They made no plea and were remanded in custody.
Detective Inspector Kelly McEwan, from Dunfermline CID, said, “Our thoughts are with Claire’s family and friends at this tragic time.
“We are satisfied that this was an isolated incident and we are not looking for anyone else in connection.”