Man hid aunt’s body in f lat for 8 months
A MAN watched his elderly aunt die then left her body in a flat and claimed benefits for her care for eight months.
John Macleod’s deceit was exposed when a workman discovered the ‘mummified’ remains of his relative.
The 55-year-old had driven dying pensioner Mina Macleod 50 miles from his home in Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, to her flat in Edinburgh.
He carried the 75-year-old up to her first-floor property, placed her in her bed and then sat with her for several hours until she died.
Macleod, who had been his aunt’s carer for 27 years, then left her body in the flat and returned to his home.
Her body was found eight months later by a tradesman.
During the subsequent police investigation, it emerged that Macleod was around £60,000 in debt and he had gone on to claim £6,596 in Income Support, Carers Allowance and Disability Living Allowance.
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Macleod pleaded guilty to failing to inform the authorities about his aunt’s death and to three charges of benefit fraud.
Fiscal depute Aidan Higgins told the court that Macleod, who had served in the RAF, was the sole carer for his paternal aunt, who had learning difficulties, for around 27 years before she died in December 2015.
Mr Higgins said: ‘In the fortnight leading to her death the accused noticed his aunt was not eating, but he did not think medical intervention was necessary. On the day of her death he noticed her breathing was shallow and she seemed unwell.
‘He concluded she seemed to be dying and wanted her to die in her own bed.’
Mr Higgins said Macleod then drove her to the flat in Madeira Street and sat with her until she died two hours later.
He added: ‘He then pulled the sheets over her body and left the flat and locked the door.’
Police were informed of a concern for an elderly woman at Macleod’s Kirkintilloch home in February 2016, but after speaking to Macleod officers were satisfied the woman was still alive and living in Edinburgh.
When a repairman gained entry to her flat in August 2016 to carry out maintenance, he discovered Mina Macleod’s badly decomposed body.
The workman contacted police and during the probe it became apparent that Macleod had claimed £6,596 in benefits he was not entitled to.
Solicitor Jonathan Campbell, defending, said: ‘He took the view on the day of his aunt’s death the best place for her was in her own bed in his company rather to die in hospital.
‘After her death he shut her away and he recognises how wrong that was.
‘He clearly dedicated a large part of his own life to care for his aunt.
‘But Mr Macleod recognises he has failed his aunt and dishonoured her memory.’
Sheriff Robert Weir deferred sentencing until today.
‘Sat with her until she died’