True crime TV series to shine light on Jenny Methven killer

The son of a pensioner who was savagely murdered in her Perthshire cottage was “absolutely sickened” when he found out his closest friend was her killer, in the story told by a n ew true crime documentary.

David Methven, who discovered his 80-year-old mother ’s blood- soaked body, treated William Kean like a brother and continued to spend time with him until the day he was charged with murder.

More than eight years later, no one close to the case can say why Kean lashed out at Je n ny Methven in the kitchen of her Forteviot home, leaving her with horrific head injuries and a cloth over her face.

The death sparked one of the biggest investigations in Tayside Police’s history, and following a turbulent trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Kean was locked up for life.

The new documentary, Murder At My Door with Kym Marsh, shines a light on the harrowing 2012 inquiry.

It is to be broadcast on the Crime and Investigation channel later this month, and looks at how Mrs Methven was killed by someone she trusted.

Margaret Dennis, Jenny’s best friend, described how David reacted when the killer was revealed.

“He was absolutely sickened to find out someone so close to him had done it,” she said.

“Even up until Willie (Kean) was charged, Davie was still meeting up with him and having a coffee.

“It’s horrendous what happened to his mother, but then to discover it was your so-called best friend... who did it? This person that was consoling you? It was a double blow.”

The investigation involved every police force in Scotland, as well as some from south of the border. At its peak, 150 officers were working on the case.

David found his mother lying on the floor of the cottage they shared near Perth, just after 5pm on February 20 2012. She had been hit on the head at least 11 times with such ferocity her skull was fractured from one side to the other.

Both her forearms were also broken, as if she had tried to defend herself.

Margaret said she became suspicious when she could not reach her friend on the telephone.

“I phoned and I phoned and I phoned,” she said. “Nothing.

“Then my pal across the road said that something had happened at Jenny and Davie’s.

“They weren’t sure what it was, but there was a lot of blue lights going. Well, I just went to pieces.”

Although David worked with the doc umentar y makers, he declined to be interviewed.

Margaret said: “Davie had to put Jenny’s body down and try CPR. That’s pretty horrific.

“He has very seldom said anything about it, that’s how private he is. I don’t think he would ever trust anybody now, the way he did with Willie Kean.”

Episode three of Murder At My Door with Kym Marsh, airs on Monday November 19 at 9pm.

BEREFT: David Methven, above, had been friends with his mother’s killer, 46-year-old William Kean, for more than 20 years. Right: Margaret Dennis, Jenny’s best friend, who had tried to call her on the night of the brutal attack.

Jenny Methven was killed by her son’s best friend.