Jonet Coutts, a 51-year-old resident of Netherude in the parish of Kirkurd, became the focal point of a significant witch hunt within the presbyteries of Peebles and Biggar during the winter of 1649–1650. Following a formal confession recorded on 20 October 1649, in which she admitted to having entered into a pact with the devil twenty-six years prior, Jonet was brought to trial in Peebles on 21 November 1649. Found guilty of the charges brought against her, she was sentenced to death and subsequently executed. Her involvement in these legal proceedings was complex, as she was not merely a defendant but also served as a central figure in the identification of others, likely naming as many as 88 individuals as fellow participants in witchcraft.
During the period between her initial confession and her death, Jonet was frequently moved between the presbyteries of Peebles and Biggar to confront and identify suspected witches, a role in which she was denounced by individuals such as Bessie Forrest, Marion Watsone, and Marioun Robiesone. Despite the central role she played in this major hunt, the religious authorities overseeing the proceedings appeared increasingly sceptical of her claims. Jonet was questioned by the presbytery as late as 4 January 1650; however, the administrative records indicate that by 18 April 1650, she was no longer living.