Slain mum ‘waved a knife at accused’

The partner of a woman accused of murdering a Dundee mum has claimed that her alleged victim brandished a knife at them days before her death.

Siobhan Russell is standing trial accused of striking 36-yearold Marie Low on the body with a knife at Ballantrae Terrace on September 4 last year.

The 30-year-old appeared yesterday at the High Court in Aberdeen and denied the charges against her.

Russell has lodged a special defence of self-defence.

Giving evidence, 29-year-old James Duncan, who had been in a relationship with Russell for six months, also claimed Ms Low struck him with a key in the days before her death.

Mr Duncan said that Ms Low had told him Russell had been engaging in prostitution.

He said that the two had previously been on good terms, but that their relationship had deteriorated.

Mr Duncan said that he and Russell attended Ms Low’s address on two occasions the day after the revelation.

He claimed that on the second occasion Ms Low had greeted them at the door with a knife and threatened them.

Mr Duncan said Ms Low had made “stabbing motions” towards the accused.

Mr Duncan then told the court that he and Russell had gone to shops on nearby Ballindean Terrace where they had bumped into the deceased.

He said that Ms Low approached him and began to gesticulate angrily towards him before striking him with the key on the face.

Russell, formerly of Ballantrae Terrace, denies behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards Ms Low on September 2 and September 3 2016. She further denies stabbing Ms Low to death on September 4.

The trial continues.

Marie Low.