Jury still out in trial

Deliberations continue in Dundee murder case

A JURY was unable to reach a verdict after spending more than a day deliberating a murder charge against a Dundee woman.

Siobhan Russell is accused of killing 36-year-old Marie Low by striking her on the body with a knife at Ballantrae Terrace on September 4 last year.

The 30-year-old has denied the charge, claiming she had been defending herself after being attacked by Ms Low and her eldest daughter JamieLee Hodge.

Jurors heard five days of evidence and then closing speeches from solicitors before retiring to consider their verdict at 3.15pm on Tuesday.

The trial resumed at 10am yesterday, with the jury immediately retiring to continue its deliberations.

A number of Ms Low’s relatives were in attendance.

However, the jury was unable to reach a decision by the end of the day.

The court reconvened today for the jury to once again consider its verdict.

The trial centred around a confrontation between Russell and her alleged victim on September 4 last year, outside the accused’s flat.

According to witnesses, the pair had been involved in confrontations in the days prior to the incident.

The court heard that Ms Low attended the property, along with her daughter Jamie-Lee, 18, and a fight broke out with Ms Low suffering a stab wound that eventually led to her death.

Russell’s defence team — headed by solicitor advocate Iain Cameron — argued Russell had been defending herself during an attack from the deceased and her daughter.

Advocate depute Alan Cameron maintained Russell had not acted in self-defence but had willingly involved herself in a confrontation by taking a knife from her home and subsequently using it.

Russell, formerly of Ballantrae Terrace, faces a single charge of murdering Ms Low with a knife. The trial continues.

Siobhan Russell has been accused of murdering Marie Low.