Woman accused of murdering and attempting to rob man, 97, in his home in Dundee

A 97-year-old man who was allegedly murdered by a woman underwent surgery before later being transferred to a home for end-of-life care, a court heard.

William Lambie was taken to Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital on April 15 last year and found to have sustained a fractured thigh.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Mr Lambie underwent surgery before being transferred to another hospital for rehabilitation.

He was then subsequently moved to St Columba’s nursing home in Dundee for end-of-life care on May 22, where he died four days later.

A jury heard about Mr Lambie’s medical treatment and death in agreed evidence on the first day of the trial of Tandy Swinton, who is accused of murdering him.

Swinton has denied murdering and attempting to rob him of money on April 15 last year at his home at a flat at Dryburgh Gardens, Dundee.

She is accused of demanding money from him and pushing him on the body, whereby he fell to the ground, to his severe injury, and as a consequence of the injury, he later died.

She is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice on the same date by seizing his community alarm, attempting to prevent him from calling for assistance, and when a connection was made, informing the operator that there were no issues and no assistance was required.

Swinton is further accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on various occasions on April 14 and 15 last year at another flat in the multi-storey block at Dryburgh Gardens by repeatedly ringing the doorbell at the property of an 82-year-old woman who is now deceased, and asking her to give her money. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A police officer told the court that he attended Mr Lambie’s home address in 2020 and took a statement from him.

The then 93-year-old said he was at home on April 29 that year when his doorbell rang, and when he opened the door, a woman was there who told him she needed to use the toilet and to come in.

The woman pushed him and went to the toilet, and when she came out, told him she wanted £40. He gave her £20, but she said that was not enough.

He said the female told him she had a knife and would stab him and kill him, although he did not see a weapon. The woman took further money from him before leaving, and he called his family.

The trial before Judge Lord Harrower continues.