A MOTHER has recalled how her young son told her on the day a teenager's body was found that he had seen a "lassie" get "battered" and fall into water.

Elizabeth Wilson said her boy Archie - then aged four and a half - claimed he had witnessed a "fight" with the girl.

It later emerged that day - August 25 1996 - that the body of Caroline Glachan, 14, had been found in the River Leven in West Dunbartonshire.

Elizabeth later told police how "the blood drained from her face" when she realised what her son had said could be linked to the death.

READ NEXT: Murder accused threatened to ‘batter’ teenager before her death, trial hears

The 53 year-old was giving evidence on Friday at the High Court in Glasgow.

Robert O'Brien, 45, Andrew Kelly and Donna Marie Brand, 44, are on trial where they deny murdering Caroline, of Bonhill, also West Dunbartonshire, 27 years ago.

Miss Wilson - also known as Betty - had gone out on the night of August 24 1996 to visit her sister.

She recalled how Kelly and his then girlfriend Sarah Jane O'Neill were baby-sitting her two sons overnight.

Miss Wilson returned next morning to find Kelly alone on the couch with the children.

READ NEXT: Schoolgirl was unconscious but alive when she entered water, murder trial told

He was wearing shorts claiming Archie had urinated on his trousers and the floor.

But, the child later stated the floor was "soaking" as someone had been sitting on it.

Archie said O'Brien had also been in the house. Miss Wilson believed she was sure the boy stated it was O'Brien who had been "wet".

The child then told his mum that he had been taken down the River Leven by O'Brien, Miss O'Neill and Brand as well.

Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC asked Miss Wilson: "Did he say what happened?"

READ NEXT: Teenager told friend accused had ‘threatened to kill her’, murder trial hears

The witness: "He said that they were down the Leven...that they were fighting with the lassie, that she had ended up falling in and that they had battered the lassie."

The boy added the girl had a Chipie brand jumper on. Jurors earlier heard Caroline had that make of top on when her body was found.

Asked if her son had said anything more about how the "lassie" was hit, Miss Wilson stated: "He told me that she got hit on the back of the head with something."

Miss Wilson and her sister - who the boy also spoke to - were initially "a bit sceptical" about what he said.

They went on to learn that Caroline's injured body had been found on the afternoon on August 25.

READ NEXT: Teen was ‘infatuated’ with accused boyfriend, mum tells murder trial

The court heard how Miss Wilson was spoken to by police in 1996.

Archie was also interviewed by detectives that year in Belfast after Miss Wilson stayed in Northern Ireland for a spell.

Footage of the boy being question was played to jurors on Friday.

Miss Wilson was then interviewed again in 2020 as police re-investigated Caroline death.

The mum told officers then that she knew what her son had said was "important", but added: "I will be honest. I did not want him involved."

Mr Prentice on Friday put to her: "How did you feel when a body had been found?"

Miss Wilson: "Scunnered."

Referring again to her statement, Miss Wilson was asked what she said her reaction was when she learned about Caroline being discovered in the river.

The court heard she told police: "The blood just kind of drained from my face. I just knew that the story Archie had just told us was related to the body."

Linda Dorrian - a neighbour of Miss Wilson's at the time - also gave evidence on Friday.

She was at home with her daughter on the evening of August 24 1996.

The now 53 year-old became aware of two males and two females going out with Miss Wilson's children sometime between 11pm and midnight.

She agreed with Mr Prentice this caused her "concern".

Miss Dorrian recognised two of the group as Sarah Jane and her "boyfriend".

The witness later heard them return and then there was a "lot of shouting".

She claimed to hear "a vocal" Sarah Jane calling one of the males "a p***k" or "a d**k". The other female was said to be "wailing".

The witness then added she could not be 100%, but believed Sarah Jane stated: "That was out of order. That was not meant to happen".

She was also said to have remarked: "That was a set up".

Miss Dorrian recalled it going "very quiet" shortly after that.

Miss Dorrian stated police came to her door days after Caroline was found.

Mr Prentice: "Did you expect them  to come back and see you?"

She replied: "Yes."

The prosecutor: "Did they do that?"

Miss Dorrian: "Quite a few years later."

The trial, before Lord Braid, continues on Tuesday.