A 40-year-old woman, Claire Kilduff, has been sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison after admitting to the brutal hammer and knife murder of her neighbour, 61-year-old Ann Coll, in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, just days before Christmas 2023.
The case was heard at the High Court in Glasgow following Kilduff’s guilty plea. Ms Coll was found dead in her home after suffering multiple stab wounds and blunt-force trauma.
The court heard that Kilduff visited Ms Coll’s flat on the evening of the attack under the pretense of watching television together. However, the situation quickly escalated into violence. Between 7:30 pm and 12:50 am, Kilduff inflicted severe injuries on Ms Coll, including at least 21 hammer blows and seven stab wounds to her neck, back, and chest.
After the assault, Kilduff made a 999 call, claiming she had found Ms Coll in a pool of blood and not breathing. Emergency responders discovered Ms Coll deceased in her bedroom. Kilduff was found sitting outside in the common close.
Prosecutor Gavin Dewar revealed that Kilduff was under financial pressure and had arranged a £320 transfer from Ms Coll’s bank account using the victim’s banking app on the night of the murder. Initially, Kilduff blamed another woman but later admitted to the killing shortly before her scheduled trial.
Almost a year after the murder, police recovered a hammer and knife with Kilduff’s DNA and traces of Ms Coll’s blood hidden in an underfloor cavity at Kilduff’s flat. Additionally, analysis of Kilduff’s phone uncovered Google searches related to stab wounds and hammer injuries on the night of the attack.
Ms Coll’s family described their loss as shattering and expressed profound grief over the violent nature of her death. Detective Superintendent Lynsey Watters called the attack “violent and shocking,” and expressed hope that the sentencing would provide some solace to the deceased’s loved ones.
Originally published by UKNIP.
