Pair in court charged with murder after body found

Two people have appeared in court accused of murdering a man in his home in Fife.

Jason Mooney, 26, and Lynn Kelly, 33, both faced charges of murder during private appearances at Dunfermline Sheriff Court yesterday.

The pair, from Dunfermline, were also charged with theft.

They were arrested on Wednesday, the day after the body of 38-year-old Chris Cowie was found by police at his home in the town’s Golfdrum Street.

Mooney and Kelly made no plea to the charges and the case was continued.

Both were remanded in custody and are expected to appear in court again within the next eight days.

Mr Cowie, who previously lived in Rosyth, was discovered in the flat in the Pittencrieff area of Dunfermline at around 6am on Tuesday, following reports of concern for a person.

A huge police operation immediately swung into action and a cordon was thrown around the three-storey block.

As forensics and CID officers spent hours in the street conducting inquiries, neighbours spoke of their shock at Mr Cowie’s death, which was initially treated as unexplained.

Police confirmed Mr Cowie’s identity on Wednesday evening and said a post-mortem examination had revealed the cause of death to be suspicious.

They said Mr Cowie’s relatives had been informed.

One neighbour said: “It’s such a shame. He wouldn’t harm anyone.”

Confirming the arrests on Wednesday, police issued a statement which said: “Officers were called to an address in Golfdrum Street on Tuesday where the body of a man was found.

“Following a post-mortem examination, the death is being treated as suspicious.

“A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

Police put up a cordon at the block of flats in Golfdrum Street.