Man charged with killing mother and daughter

A man has been charged with the murders of a woman and her 10-year-old daughter after their bodies were discovered at the side of a road. Diane Fallon, 43, and her daughter Holly disappeared from their home in the village of Cronberry, near Cumnock in East Ayrshire, 13 days ago.

Thomas Smith, 26, from Cronberry, appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court charged with their murders. Mr Smith is also accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Police were alerted on 31 March when Holly's teacher reported she was missing from class at St John's Primary in Cumnock. The mother and daughter were last seen by a neighbour three days earlier. A large-scale search involved mountain rescue teams, a helicopter, police dogs and divers. Two bodies were found on Wednesday on the A70 in Ayrshire, close to the Lugar River and the Templand Viaduct, a landmark on the Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr railway line. Mr Smith made no plea and no declaration and was remanded in custody. He will reappear in court on 16 April.