Murdered Blantyre man's mum found dead

Apr 10 2008 EXCLUSIVE by Graham Fraser

THE mother of murder victim Brian McQueen has been found dead in her home.

Sarah McQueen (55) was discovered in her Parkville Drive house in Blantyre on Monday morning by her son-in-law David Carey.

It is believed she suffered a heart attack.

The news comes as three men appeared in court yesterday (Wednesday) charged with the murder of Brian McQueen.

They were named as Stephen Fullerton (26), of Riverside Road, Larkhall; Dean Hutchison (21), of Crawford Crescent, Blantyre, and Derek Leith (33), of Townhill Road, Hamilton.

Mrs McQueen’s death comes only two weeks after she appeared in court on a charge of attempted murder.

Police have said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

It is understood Mr Carey, whose wife Margaret is Sarah McQueen’s daughter, was passing Mrs McQueen’s house at around 8.30am on Monday and noticed the door was slightly open.

While this was not unusual, he went inside the house and discovered Sarah McQueen downstairs.

He phoned the ambulance service, who in turn phoned the police.

A police casualty surgeon attended Mrs McQueen’s house and examined her.

Sarah McQueen had a history of heart problems for nearly 13 years.

The 55-year-old has suffered a number of heart attacks in the past.

She has also battled diabetes and asthma.

Sarah McQueen was last seen by her daughter Margaret on the afternoon of Sunday, April 6.

She complained she was not feeling well.

On March 27, Sarah McQueen appeared in Hamilton Sheriff Court on a charge of attempting to murder of Anthony Brown on February 24.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court yesterday, Stephen Fullerton, Dean Hutchison and Derek Leith appeared in the dock all charged with the murder of her son Brian McQueen.

Fullerton was also accused of three charges of uttering threats, two charges of possessing cocaine and three charges of supplying cocaine. The offences are all alleged to have occurred during January and February.

Dean Hutchison was further accused of two incidences of uttering threats.

Derek Leith faces a another charge of false representation to the police. It is understood this charge relates to his car.

All three men made no plea or declaration and were remanded in custody.

The case has been continued for further examination.

Two weeks ago, on the same day Sarah McQueen appeared on a charge of attempted murder, her daughter Margaret Carey McQueen (34), of Parkville Drive, was also charged with attempting to murder 33-year-old Anthony Brown on February 24.

When Margaret Carey McQueen appeared on petition at the court on the same day, she faced a further charge of attempting to murder Anthony Brown on March 14.

Both women made no plea or declaration and were released on bail on that day.

Two weeks ago John Paul McQueen, the brother of Brian McQueen and Sarah McQueen’s son, was also accused of two charges of attempted murder.

The 28-year-old, of Auchinraith Terrace, appeared on petition at Hamilton Sheriff Court accused of attempting to murder Anthony Brown on February 24 and March 14.

He made no plea or declaration at that time and the case was committed for further examination.

Brian McQueen - Sarah McQueen’s son - was attacked in Hardie Street as he walked home from his girlfriend Margaret McCarroll’s home in Small Crescent on Wednesday, February 13, at 10pm.

Police said four men jumped out of a black Ford Focus and launched a “frenzied attack”.

The killers then fled in the car