Woman jailed for murdering Rutherglen neighbour in 'horrifying' hammer and knife attack

A woman who murdered her neighbour in a "horrifying" hammer and knife attack has been jailed for at least 21 years.

Claire Kilduff, 40, fatally assaulted Ann Coll, 61, at the victim's flat in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, just days before Christmas in 2023 and tried to pin the blame on someone else.

In his sentencing statement, judge Lord Arthurson said the killer's actions were "highly suggestive of a cold-blooded and intentional murder carried out for financial gain".

He added: "A crime initiated and completed by you when your defenceless victim had no idea about the savage, merciless and wholly murderous attack which you were about to unleash upon her."

Ms Coll suffered at least 21 hammer blows to the head and was repeatedly stabbed in the neck and body.

Lord Arthurson branded the attack "frenzied and sustained", adding: "Your victim's injuries were catastrophic, extensive and horrifying."

Kilduff pleaded guilty to murder at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday and was handed a life sentence with at least 21 years behind bars on Tuesday.

The court heard how the crime occurred during the evening of 21 December 2023 into the early hours of the following morning.

Kilduff - who was in debt and knew how to access Ms Coll's banking app - had gone to the grandmother's home and transferred £320 into her own account.

At some point during the night, the killer launched the fatal assault and later lied in a 999 call that she had found Ms Coll in a pool of blood.

Ms Coll was pronounced dead by paramedics at 1am on 22 December 2023.

Meantime, Kilduff had hidden the murder weapons and incriminating pieces of clothing in an underfloor cavity within her own flat and attempted to blame another person.

Police Scotland subsequently launched a murder investigation and later arrested Kilduff on 2 February 2024.

Officers eventually recovered the hidden evidence, and an examination of her phone showed a number of internet searches on the night of the attack - including "deadliest stab wounds", "hammer to head injury" and "stab wound to neck".

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Lord Arthurson said Ms Coll, who lived alone with her dog Lola, was a "much-loved" mother of three and grandmother of eight - with two of her grandchildren born after her death.

She was described as a popular neighbour and a highly respected member of the community.

The judge added: "Mrs Coll had survived cancer not once, but twice, and lived a full and contented life among her family, friends and neighbours.

"I have now myself had the privilege of reading heart-rending impact statements prepared by her still grieving daughters, her son and one of her granddaughters.

"Truly, as one of her children eloquently expressed matters, their lives will, due to the murder of their mother and grandmother by you that night, never be whole again."

Detective Superintendent Lynsey Watters said the "violent and shocking attack" had been devastating for Ms Coll's family and friends.

She added: "While no outcome can truly ease the pain of their loss, we hope this sentencing will bring some comfort to her loved ones as Kilduff faces the consequences of her actions."

(c) Sky News 2026: Woman jailed for murdering Rutherglen neighbour in 'horrifying' hammer and knife attack