Michael Ross' lawyer describes Orkney Assassin as 'well-mannered' and 'gentle' in Prime Video documentary
Michael Ross was convicted of the murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood in 2008, with his lawyer opening up on the convicted killer in a new Prime Video documentary.
Convicted murderer Michael Ross has been described as "gentle" by his lawyer in a new one-off documentary.
The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles premiered on Prime Video on Sunday, June 8, providing audiences insight from officers, journalists, witnesses, and Ross's parents regarding the murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood.
In 2008, Ross faced conviction for the murder of the Indian restaurant waiter, which occurred 14 years prior and recieved a life sentence.
Throughout the trial, Donald Findlay provided Ross' defence, but as disclosed in the documentary, with more than 10 years remaining until parole eligibility, Ross sought new representation.
Lawyer Aamer Anwar was hired for the position but expressed his initial doubts about taking on the case.
Anwar commented in the documentary: "So when it came in, there was some healthy cynicism.
"'Why me? You know my reputation. You know I fight injustice, human rights and on race' but they said that's exactly the reason why Michael wanted me to have a look at the case.
"And when I met Michael, he was well mannered, considered, gentle."
Ross, since his sentencing, has consistently proclaimed his innocence and has made three attempts to escape prison, the most recent being a 2018 incident where he tried to scale a fence.
Anwar added: "And the fact that in all these years, he's maintained his innocence.
"That always strikes me when somebody refuses to take the easy option and go 'you know what, I'm guilty' to try and get out earlier.
"But he's refused to do that, he says he cannot do that, he insists he's an innocent man. And it's never ended."
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Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Michael Ross' lawyer describes Orkney Assassin as 'well-mannered' and 'gentle' in Prime Video documentary
Michael Ross was convicted of the murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood in 2008, with his lawyer opening up on the convicted killer in a new Prime Video documentary. Convicted murderer Michael Ross has been described as "gentle" by his lawyer in a new one-off documentary. The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles premiered on Prime Video on Sunday, June 8, providing audiences insight from officers, journalists, witnesses, and Ross's parents regarding the murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood. In 2008, Ross faced conviction for the murder of the Indian restaurant waiter, which occurred 14 years prior and recieved a life sentence. Throughout the trial, Donald Findlay provided Ross' defence, but as disclosed in the documentary, with more than 10 years remaining until parole eligibility, Ross sought new representation. Lawyer Aamer Anwar was hired for the position but expressed his initial doubts about taking on the case. Anwar commented in the documentary: "So when it came in, there was some healthy cynicism. "'Why me? You know my reputation. You know I fight injustice, human rights and on race' but they said that's exactly the reason why Michael wanted me to have a look at the case. "And when I met Michael, he was well mannered, considered, gentle." Ross, since his sentencing, has consistently proclaimed his innocence and has made three attempts to escape prison, the most recent being a 2018 incident where he tried to scale a fence. Anwar added: "And the fact that in all these years, he's maintained his innocence. "That always strikes me when somebody refuses to take the easy option and go 'you know what, I'm guilty' to try and get out earlier. "But he's refused to do that, he says he cannot do that, he insists he's an innocent man. And it's never ended."
Edinburgh Live
4 hours ago
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Orkney Assassin Michael Ross' lawyer describers convicted killer as 'gentle'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Michael Ross' lawyer praised the convicted murderer as "well-mannered" and "gentle" upon their first meeting. Prime Video has just dropped its gripping new documentary, The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles, on Sunday, June 8, featuring interviews with former police officers, journalists, witnesses and Ross' own parents about the chilling murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood. Ross was convicted for killing the Indian restaurant waiter in 2008, 14 years after Mahmood's death, with the former Army sniper given a life sentence for the cirme. During the trial, Ross had Donald Findlay QC fighting his corner, but as the documentary reveals, with over 10 years left until he's up for parole, Ross hired a new lawyer. Scottish solicitor Aamer Anwar confessed to some initial doubts about taking on the infamous case in the documentary. (Image: PRIME VIDEO) He shared: "So when it came in, there was some healthy cynicism. "'Why me? You know my reputation. You know I fight injustice, human rights and on race' but they said that's exactly the reason why Michael wanted me to have a look at the case. "And when I met Michael, he was well mannered, considered, gentle." (Image: PRIME VIDEO) Despite years behind bars, Ross is remains insisted about his innocence and has tried to escape prison three times, with the most recent attempt in 2018 when he attempted to climb a fence. Anwar adds: "And the fact that in all these years, he's maintained his innocence. "That always strikes me when somebody refuses to take the easy option and go 'you know what, I'm guilty' to try and get out earlier. "But he's refused to do that, he says he cannot do that, he insists he's an innocent man. And it's never ended." The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles is available to watch on Prime Video.
Edinburgh Live
6 hours ago
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Michael Ross still in 'no man's land' as Prime Video drops Orkney Assassin documentary
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Michael Ross' solicitor has claimed that his client, who maintains his innocence, is stuck in "no man's land" three decades after being convicted of murder. Back in June 1994, a masked figure donning a balaclava entered the Mumataz Restaurant in Kirwall at about 7.10pm and fatally shot 26-year-old waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood before exiting the scene. Despite 14 years going by, Ross, then aged 15, was apprehended and found guilty of the crime in 2008. Following his conviction at the High Court in Glasgow, Ross notoriously attempted to flee but was thwarted and now remains incarcerated for life at HMP Shotts in Lanarkshire, as reported by the BBC. Prime Video has recently unveiled a one-off special titled The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles, which includes interviews with officers, eyewitnesses, journalists, and Ross' parents,. In an exclusive chat with Screen Time prior to the documentary airing, Ross' lawyer Aamer Anwar provided an insight into his client's current plight. (Image: PRIME VIDEO/ORKNEY PHOTOGRAPHIC) "I suppose he's very much in no man's land," he commented. "The difficulty with an appeal you've ever watched Shawshank Redemption and Andy comes into prison and Morgan Freeman tells him 'Don't you know everyone's innocent inside'. "But I've come to learn from over 25 years of being a lawyer that the reality is there are lots of innocent people inside prison. "How to prove it is another matter, because the system is almost a raid against human rights throughout the United Kingdom, to be able to fight your appeal and to prove your innocence. "And even if you say you have five pinnacles of evidence, five issues, and one is so critical. "For instance, someone comes in and lies about you and says 'I saw him, that's definitely him.' "But that person is ruled out, 'well we'll still rely on the other four afterwards.' "The damage is already done. So therein lies the problem, as in people remain convicted." Anwar then highlighted the crucial role of DNA in cases like Ross', stating: "The idea that someone could walk into a restaurant, shoot someone at point blank range and not leave anything of themselves, beggar's belief. "I always say to my lecture students, to commit a murder is extremely difficult. "To not leave anything of yourself: footprints, DNA, CCTV maybe, whatever it may be. "Fair enough, this is a remote island but there were still people there. "The idea that this person then disappears into the darkness? Then begs the question that people always said, 'well they never closed the ports of entry and exit.' "Is it somebody from off the island that came on, well how do they know? They didn't." Even though three decades have passed, Ross maintains his innocence, with the former Army sniper having attempted to break out of prison thrice, the latest being in 2018 when he tried to scale a fence. "You still have someone who claims he is innocent, who has never given up that he is innocent, who is still fighting to prove his innocence," Anwar added. "He could have made his life a lot easier by saying 'I did it.' A lot more chance of parole then, a lot more chance of getting out earlier." The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles is available to watch on Prime Video.
