American accused of killing UK stepmother

The Foreign Office said Tracy Brannan, 33, originally from Glasgow, died in Omaha, Nebraska, on Sunday. Her husband, Harold, 60, was also injured.

Neighbours say the stepson, David Brannan, 21, then stabbed himself. He is understood to be under police guard at a medical centre and police say he will be arrested on his release.

Mrs Brannan, born Tracy Wyatt, married Dr Brannan in May.

Police were called to the home at about 4.40am on Saturday when Dr Brannan knocked on a neighbour's door calling for help, and leaving a blood trail through the yard. He told them his son, from his first marriage, had stabbed him and his new wife.

The three had been living together in the rental property.

Mrs Brannan worked for Loch Fyne Oysters Ltd from 1995 until she left in March this year for a new married life in the States.

Douglas Fraser, owner of the Cairndow Stagecoach Inn in Argyll, knew Mrs Brannan when she worked as an assistant chef at a Loch Fyne Oyster bar.

He said: "She was a nice lassie. She was very nice and bubbly. She was quite well known in the area and people are shocked by what has happened."

A spokeswoman for Loch Fyne Oysters said staff were left with a great sense of loss and shock.