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Police ScotlandMurder probe launched after death of 61-year-old Ann Coll Police Scotland<\/p>\nA killer brutally murdered her neighbour in a hammer and knife attack.<\/p>\n
Claire Kilduff bludgeoned and stabbed Ann Coll to death, having also taken more than \u00a3300 from the popular grandmother\u2019s bank account.<\/p>\n
The 40-year-old later went on to make a 999 call that she had found the 61-year-old in a pool of blood, having gone to her flat in Rutherglen days before Christmas 2023.<\/p>\n
She now faces a life sentence after pleading guilty to murder at the High Court in Glasgow.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Gavin Dewar told how the women had been both friends and neighbours.<\/p>\n
They often walked their dogs together near where they stayed in Newfield Place, Rutherglen, including shortly before the murder.<\/p>\n
Kilduff had gone to Ann\u2019s that night to watch television.<\/p>\n
Police ScotlandMurder probe launched after death of 61-year-old Ann Coll Police Scotland<\/p>\n
Mr Dewar said the killer was what was described as \u201cfinancially embarrassed\u201d at the time, owing cash to unnamed others.<\/p>\n
The court heard that Kilduff \u2013 who knew how to access Ann\u2019s banking app \u2013 arranged that evening to transfer \u00a3320 from the victim\u2019s account into her own.<\/p>\n
Ann \u2013 who lived alone with her dog Lola \u2013 was on benefits at the time.<\/p>\n
Mr Dewar said the murder went on to take place sometime between around 7.30pm and 12.50am the next morning.<\/p>\n
Explaining the ferocity of the attack, he told the court: \u201cKilduff repeatedly struck Ann Coll with a hammer, causing extensive blunt force trauma injuries to the head and neck.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe blows caused extensive fractures to Ann Coll\u2019s skull. Kilduff repeatedly stabbed her with a knife.\u201d<\/p>\n
The killer went on to dial 999 herself.<\/p>\n
During a call, a breathless and crying Kilduff stated: \u201cI have come up and found my neighbour in a pool of blood and she is not breathing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emergency crews arrived to find Ann in her bedroom, but she could not be saved.<\/p>\n
Mr Dewar said the mum-of-three had suffered at least 21 blows to the head.<\/p>\n
This resulted in multiple fractures. Ann also had seven stab wounds to the neck, back and side of the chest.<\/p>\n
Kilduff had been found sitting in the common close when police turned up after the murder.<\/p>\n
However, it was not until February 2024 that she was arrested.<\/p>\n
Police had earlier launched an appeal for help in trying to solve the killing.<\/p>\n
During the probe, mum-of-one Kilduff\u2019s phone was examined.<\/p>\n
The court heard she made a number of Google searches on the night of the attack.<\/p>\n
These included \u201cdeadliest stab wounds\u201d, \u201cstab wound to the neck\u201d, \u201chammer to head injury\u201d and \u201ckilled by single blow to head\u201d.<\/p>\n
Others later that night were \u201ckilled by my debt\u201d and \u201ckilled by single blow to head\u201d.<\/p>\n
Police went on to find incriminating items having been alerted to an underfloor cavity area in Kilduff\u2019s flat in November 2024 \u2013 almost a year after the murder.<\/p>\n
The hammer and knife were discovered \u2013 the weapons had Kilduff\u2019s DNA on them as well as traces of Ann\u2019s blood.<\/p>\n
Kilduff had been due to stand this week before admitting her guilt.<\/p>\n
She had previously lodged a special defence via her lawyers, blaming another woman \u2013 a prosecution witness \u2013 for the killing.<\/p>\n
Mr Dewar told the court Ann was \u201ca much-loved parent, grandparent and friend\u201d who was \u201cgreatly missed\u201d, particularly by her children.<\/p>\n
Gary Allan KC, defending, said Kilduff \u201ccannot explain\u201d what she did, but had \u201cexpressed sorrow\u201d for the killing.<\/p>\n
Lord Arthurson adjourned the case for sentencing. Kilduff remains in custody.<\/p>\n
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