Happy family torn apart by killer son

SMILING for the camera on the banks of Loch Fyne and posing inside Inveraray jail, Tracy Brannan, her husband and her stepson seem to be enjoying a happy family holiday in Scotland.

• Tracy with Harold Brannan at the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, where she used to work. Picture: Alan Carson

But just a year after these photos were taken, the Scots woman was dead and her husband injured after his son turned on them with a knife as they slept in their home in the United States.

The couple, who married on 7 May, were in bed when David Brannan, 21, attacked them in the early hours of Saturday.

Mrs Brannan, 33, nee Wyatt, who grew up in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, was taken to hospital but died from multiple stab wounds. Her American husband, Dr Harold Brannan, 60, was discharged after treatment.

His son, David, slashed his own throat after the attack, but the wound was not fatal. He refused to release the knife until police had shot him three times with a 50,000-watt Taser gun at 4:40am.

Detectives, who were called after Dr Brannan staggered to a neighbour's house begging for help, said his son would be charged with murder once doctors had declared him fit enough.

Neighbours said they saw a bloodied Mrs Brannan being dragged from the house in Omaha, Nebraska, by her terrified husband.

One said: "This has come as a massive shock to everyone. The Brannans mostly kept to themselves but were always friendly."

The crime scene was a far cry from their holiday in Scotland last summer, when Dr Brannan - a psychologist whose specialisms include family counselling - and his son were pictured smiling and wearing kilts.

They visited Edinburgh Castle and Inveraray Jail, where David posed as a prisoner in one picture. Joined by Mrs Brannan's brother, Simon Wyatt, and her niece, Rebecca, they also visited the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, at Cairndow in Argyll, where the dead woman used to work as assistant head chef.

Last night, a source close to the family said: "Harold and David had a fantastic experience going round and seeing Scotland.

"They were both desperate to wear a kilt and wore them everywhere they went. It made them feel like an adopted Scot. It was such a happy time for everyone. No-one could have had any idea something like this would have happened just months later."

Initially, David Brannan appeared thrilled about his father's relationship. He posted on Facebook: "Tracy will be living here on the 19th woot woot."

After their marriage, he wrote: "Congrats Hal and Tracy on the wedding good stuff."

Yesterday, his personal page was littered with furious messages from heartbroken relatives of Mrs Brannan.

Rebecca posted a link to a newspaper story about the killing and wrote: "U are a a** hole for what u did to my auntie tracy your step mum my family will never get to see her again because of u. A** hole I hate you for what u did."

Brannan also has a MySpace page where, in 2007, he made references to drug use and revealed he had been kicked out of a course of rehab after failing to turn up. He also referred to his father as "the parole officer".

Messages of condolence were left on Mr Wyatt's Facebook page. Dawn Smith said: "So sorry to hear the awful news." Laura Mullins wrote: "Our thoughts and our love is with you all."

An Omaha Police Department spokesman said: "David Brannan is still in the hospital for treatment of his injuries. Once he is released from the hospital, he will be charged for the murder of Tracy Brannan, and the felony assault of Harold Brannan."