A WOMAN accused of murdering a pensioner persuaded her not to contact the police after she took £1,000 from the pensioner’s bank account, a court has heard.

Sandra Weir, who is on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh for the murder of Mary Logie, 82, insisted that she had accidentally taken the cash, her friend Nicola Brisland told jurors.

Ms Brisland, 50, told the court the pensioner discovered that the sum was missing at some point probably in the last year.

Ms Logie was found dead at her home in January 5.

Mrs Weir, who lived next door to the pensioner, was Ms Logie’s unofficial carer and helped her with day-to-day tasks.

The court heard that Ms Logie, of Leven, Fife, planned to go to the police about the theft.

Ms Brisland said: “She said Mary was going to go the police about it but it had been sorted out. She told Mary that she had used the wrong card. She said that she had sorted it out with her and that she was paying her back.”

Ms Brisland, also of Leven, giving evidence on the fourth day of Mrs Weir’s trial, said that she and her friend had taken heroin together at various times last year.

Ms Brisland told the court that she loaned Mrs Weir £150 on Boxing Day last year. The court heard that Mrs Weir said to her that she would give the cash back on January 5, the day the pensioner’s body was found.

Ms Brisland told prosecuting QC Alex Prentice QC: “Sandra said to me ‘the latest you’ll get this back is on the 5th.’”

Mrs Weir’s husband, Alexander, told the trial that his wife had returned home on that day screaming that there was “something wrong” with Ms Logie after she went next door to check her.

Mr Weir, 58, told jurors: “Obviously I didn’t know what had happened, but I saw a wound on her head.”

He said that when he was trying to find a pulse he heard Mrs Logie breathing, but as he was counting her breathing he noticed further wounds.

Mr Weir added: “I realised then it wasn’t a fall.”

Mr Weir said he knew about his wife’s problems with drugs. He said that the accused admitted in November she had been “dabbling” in drugs again and owed money to Ms Logie, who was known as “Rae”.

Mr Prentice quoted from a letter Mrs Weir had written to her husband in November. In it she said she was sorry for lying and wrote: “Along with drugs comes debts and unfortunately the debts are mine.

“I was stupid to think I could manage it all.”

Mrs Weir is accused of killing the pensioner by repeatedly striking her on the head and body with a rolling pin or similar instrument.

She faces charges including attempting to defeat the ends of justice and stealing cash, jewellery and bank cards.

Prosecutors allege she used Mrs Logie’s bank card to steal £4,460 at cash machines.

Mrs Weir claims that she was at other locations at the time of the murder. She has pled not guilty to all the charges. The trial continues.