Woman accused of murdering aunt may not face trial

A woman accused of murdering her pensioner aunt at her home in Lanarkshire may not face trial.

Louise Markson, 51, is charged with killing 78-year-old Susan Sergison at a property in Hamilton in January this year.

She is alleged to have struck her aunt with blunt and sharp-edged implements, a mug and a pen while also stamping and kicking her.

At the High Court in Glasgow, Callum Hiller, defending, tendered a plea that his client who is in the state hospital at Carstairs was not fit to stand trial.

A continued preliminary hearing and an evidential hearing in January will now determine whether Ms Markson will be fit for trial.

Ms Sergison allegedly had her hair pulled as well as being repeatedly punched and kicked and jumped on.

Prosecutors claim Ms Sergison was robbed of a quantity of jewellery during the alleged attack.

Ms Markson faces a separate charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

It is said she got rid of a mobile phone to “conceal and destroy evidence” allegedly connecting her to the killing.

Judge Lord Renucci KC said a trial could be converted to an examination of facts depending on what happens in January.

He added that he would fix a seven-day trial date for November 2026, that could be converted to an examination of facts if required.