A CHARITY worker killed by her former partner had 42 stab wounds, a court heard today.

Alyson Watt was attacked by Gary Brown at her home in Paisley on June 2 last year.

Former soldier Brown yesterday went on trial at the High Court in Glasgow, where he denies murder.

The 55-year-old admits killing Barnardo's worker Miss Watt but claims he was suffering from an “abnormality of the mind” at the time.

Advocate depute Michael Meehan started the trial by reading a joint minute – facts agreed by the prosecution and Brown's legal team.

This included information of Miss Watt's injuries. She had 42 separate stab wounds to the body.

Mr Meehan told the court: “Two stab wounds on the neck had damaged the jugular veins. This would have resulted in rapid, profuse blood loss and, ultimately, death.”

It was also stated there was further evidence of “defensive” injuries.

The trial was later told that Brown, of Uddingston, near Glasgow, had latterly been an engineer with Scottish Power.

Jurors heard he had previously been in the armed forces and was serving at the time of the Falklands War.

A colleague at Scottish Power went on to recall meeting with Brown weeks before the alleged murder took place.

Colin Bingham said he went to the Counting House pub in Glasgow with him.

It was there that Brown spoke about a phone “to do with the girl he was together with at the time”.

He had apparently “read messages” on it.

Mr Meehan asked the witness: “Did he indicate to you what the content was?”

Mr Bingham replied: “He asked me what did I think a drunken kiss was. I said it was more than a peck.

“He did not really go into great detail. Gary had asked me about a drunken kiss and he said he had read that from the messages on the phone.

“He was just Gary. He was not angry, just a topic of conversation, asking a pal a question.”

Brian McConnachie QC, defending, later asked Mr Bingham if he he aware that Brown had been in a relationship at the time.

The witness said he did know this.

Mr McConnachie then asked: “A lady from Paisley?”

Mr Bingham replied: “Yes.”

The advocate continued: “How did he seem?”

Mr Bingham answered: “Quite taken by her.”

The court also heard that, the day after the killing, Brown was arrested near to a quarry in Lockerbie, in Dumfries and Galloway.

He faces other charges, including an accusation that he attempted to kill a 16-year-boy at the house in Paisley on the same day of the alleged murder.

The trial, before Lord Summers, continues.