Head-in-bag case custody extended

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A judge has granted a 30-day extension to prosecutors as efforts continue to establish a cause of death for a woman whose head was found in a bag.

Alan Cameron, 54, appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh as the Crown applied to extend the period to serve an indictment on a person held in custody.

In January Mr Cameron was charged with breach of the peace and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

Heather Stacey's head was found on 31 December in a bag in Edinburgh.

Advocate depute Brian McConnachie said an indictment had not yet been served on Mr Cameron.

Cause of death

"Efforts have been under way to establish a cause of death and to establish whether or not there are to be any charges arising from the death itself, as opposed to the scattering of body parts," said Mr McConnachie.

The advocate depute said that because of the time the body had lain pathologists had been "unable to ascertain the cause of death" at a post-mortem examination in January.

But he said further investigations were under way at a laboratory in Glasgow and by forensic scientists.

Mr McConnachie asked judge Lord Kinclaven to grant the Crown a 60-day extension to time limits in the case.

Mark Stewart QC, for Mr Cameron, said the move was opposed and that Mr Cameron had co-operated with the authorities.

He said the Crown's contention that further information may be derived from the continuing examinations was "speculative".

Lord Kinclaven said the court was anxious to prevent delays, but was satisfied that cause had been shown for an extension although he added he would restrict it to 30 days.