Two arrested over death of woman in Fife village

Residents shocked by alleged murder in ‘sleepy, peaceful’ area

The alleged murder of a 36-year-old woman has shocked residents of a “sleepy” Fife village.

A 27-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman have been arrested in connection with the death in Blairhall.

It is understood the woman who was arrested had only moved to the village recently and was the tenant of the flat at the centre of the investigation.

A woman’s body was discovered in Rintoul Avenue on Friday evening.

Police cordoned off a large section of the road, from the top of East Avenue to the junction with Bowling Green Wynd.

Crime scene officers could be seen entering and leaving the first floor property along with a team of detectives.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Police in Fife have arrested two people in connection with the murder of a 36-year-old woman in Blairhall near Dunfermline.

“Officers were called to an address in the Rintoul Avenue area of Blairhall at around 7.30pm on Friday 5 October where the woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

“The 27-year-old man and 29-year-old woman remain in police custody and inquiries are ongoing.”

It is understood the woman who died did not live in the property.

Her identity has not been released and residents said they did not know her.

People in the village expressed shock at the death, describing it as a quiet place to live, with some saying they did not even bother locking their doors.

One dog walker said: “I’ve been here for four years and it’s the sleepiest, most peaceful village there is.

“Everyone is in each others’ pockets. It’s as friendly as anything.”

Former community councillor Joan Lister, 73, who lives near the property at the centre of the investigation, said: “The reaction has been shock.

“We used to have police reports every month and there were only domestics or things involving kids.”

Meanwhile, sniffer dogs were brought in as police continued to probe the mysterious death of a couple in Glenrothes.

Thomas Meechan, 48, and Shelley Morrison, 37, were pronounced dead shortly after being discovered at a flat in Forres Drive, Glenrothes, on Thursday.

So far the tragedy is being treated as unexplained.

A police dog handler was seen near the flat in the town’s Tanshall area over the weekend, raising speculation officers were searching for illicit substances.

However, there have been reports that no illegal drugs were found in the property.

The couple are also understood to have suffered no injuries.

Nobody at Police Scotland was available for comment on the incident over the weekend.

Picture: Steven Brown. Police officers carry out investigations in Blairhall after the alleged murder of a woman.

Police and forensic officers at the scene of the incident in Glenrothes in which two people were found dead last week. Picture: Steve MacDougall.