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'Killer letter' handed to police | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
An anonymous letter claiming to identify who shot a waiter to death was handed to police 12 years later, a murder trial has been told. | |
Michael Ross, 29, denies murdering 26-year-old Shamsuddin Mahmood at the Mumutaz restaurant in Kirkwall, Orkney, in 1994. | |
The High Court in Glasgow heard the letter said: "I saw his face in full and the handgun". | |
Mr Ross, of Inverness, was 15 at the time of the waiter's death in Kirkwall. | Mr Ross, of Inverness, was 15 at the time of the waiter's death in Kirkwall. |
Police civilian worker Susan Sinclair said the note was handed in to Kirkwall police office by William Grant in 2006. | |
She told prosecutor Brian McConnachie QC that she recognised the man. | |
This may seem stupid, but the way he held the handgun looked like he had held a firearm before Letter shown to jury | |
The jury was shown the letter which stated: "This is a true letter, I promise that I saw the person who killed the Indian waiter. | |
"I saw his face in full and the handgun. It was in toilets at Kiln Corner. I have lived long enough with the guilt at not coming forward. | |
"The person was about 15+ years approx - white and had a balaclava on head but still not turned down." | |
It went on: "The colour was either dark blue or black and dark clothing. He came out of the cubicle but went back in quick when he saw me. I looked over and saw his face in full. | |
"The handgun was natural polished metal or silver and a big Beretta. | |
"This may seem stupid, but the way he held the handgun looked like he had held a firearm before. I just don't ken what to do. Worried sick witness." | |
No name | |
When asked by Mr McConnachie: "Did you speak to him?" she replied: "I don't really recall what was said. He handed me a letter and then he just turned and walked out." | |
Donald Findlay QC, defending, asked her: "It was an anonymous letter delivered personally was it not?" and she replied: "Yes". | |
Mr Findlay added: "It just happened you know this person?" and she replied: "Yes." | |
When asked if anything was missing from the letter she relied: "There's no name of the person who wrote it." | |
She said she did not know if Mr Grant was the author or the postman. | |
Heard banging | |
A man earlier told how he heard banging and rustling coming from a toilet cubicle shortly after the waiter was shot. | |
John Rendall said that when he heard about the murder the next day he suspected the noises could be linked. | |
Mr Ross is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by changing his clothing and disposing of the weapon. | Mr Ross is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by changing his clothing and disposing of the weapon. |
He is further charged with, while acting with others whose identities are unknown, committing a breach of the peace outside the Indian restaurant by shouting, swearing, uttering threats of violence and racist abuse. | He is further charged with, while acting with others whose identities are unknown, committing a breach of the peace outside the Indian restaurant by shouting, swearing, uttering threats of violence and racist abuse. |
The offence was allegedly committed between 3 May and 24 May, 1994. | The offence was allegedly committed between 3 May and 24 May, 1994. |
Mr Ross is also accused of committing a breach of the peace on 19 May that year in Papdale Woods, Kirkwall. | Mr Ross is also accused of committing a breach of the peace on 19 May that year in Papdale Woods, Kirkwall. |
He denies all charges and has lodged a special defence of alibi claiming he was nowhere near the Indian restaurant or Kirkwall town centre, but was cycling in another part of Orkney. | He denies all charges and has lodged a special defence of alibi claiming he was nowhere near the Indian restaurant or Kirkwall town centre, but was cycling in another part of Orkney. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |