THE son of 80-year-old Jenny Methven told a murder trial of returning from work to find her dead in the kitchen of her home.

David Methven, 58, was giving evidence at the trial of his former friend, William Kean, who denies murdering the pensioner and defeating the ends of justice.

The court heard there was more than £150,000 in the cottage when Mrs Methven died.

Mr Methven, a contractor, told prosecutor Alex Prentice, QC, that he returned to the home he shared with his mother in Forteviot, Perthshire, at around 5.10pm on February 20, and was surprised to find no lights on.

He said he called out twice to his mother but got no reply. Mr Methven added: "She was lying half on, and half off, a kitchen chair with a towel over her head.

"She was slumped down. There was a great deal of blood on her, on the carpet and on the walls. It was pretty much a mess."

He said his first thought was that she had been involved in an accident. Mr Prentice asked him if she appeared to be alive. He replied: "No."

Mr Methven said the last time he saw his mother alive was at breakfast that morning and he thought it was just "a normal Monday". He claimed they were going out to eat in a nearby village that evening and added: "We reminded each other we wouldn't need an evening meal because it was curry night. That was the last words I exchanged with my mother."

Earlier, Mr Prentice asked Mr Methven, who is being blamed by Kean for his mother's death, if he had ever wanted to harm her and he replied: " No sir."

He was then asked if he had ever been part of a plan to harm her and again he said: "No sir."

Mrs Methven, a member of the SWRI, visited the House of Bruar for lunch and attended church on the day before she died, the court heard.

Her son said the £150,000 in the cottage was a combination of her money, some of his money and money that had been left by his late father, Andrew.

Mr Methven said: "About £20,000 to £30,000 would be mine and the rest would be a combination of what she had and what she would have inherited."

He claimed he had not realised how much cash was in the house.

When asked why the money was not put in a bank, Mr Methven replied: "My mother was paranoid that if she had to go into care the family money would be taken from us."

The court also heard that £15,000 of Mr Methven's money was stolen from their cottage in September 2011, but that he did not inform his mother or police.

Just weeks later a £2000 alarm system was installed at the cottage.

Mr Methven told the court he had known murder accused Kean for 20 years and had first met him when he worked for the roads department of the council.

After Kean left the council and set up a number of businesses he had continued to be friendly with him and had invested in one of his internet businesses.

He said they also went 50/50 on buying and selling cars for pin money.

Mr Methven added that Kean was well known to his mother.

Mr Prentice asked: "Mr Kean would be a known face and would be welcome?" Mr Methven replied: "Yes, definitely."

Mr Methven is expected to return to the witness box today.

Earlier, the jury heard from Elizabeth Cook, 80, a friend of Mrs Methven for 50 years, who told of how a phone conversation on the day she died was interrupted at around 10.30am.

The court heard that the two old friends had been chatting to each other for 46 minutes.

Mr Prentice asked Mrs Cook how the call ended.

The witness said: "She said to me, 'There is a vehicle reversing up my driveway. I have to go and see what it is'."

Mrs Cook added: "She didn't say goodbye."

The trial before Lord Glennie continues.