Trio to stand trial charged with murdering man 23 years ago
Prosecutors claim he was then repeatedly attacked on the head and body with a knife or knives.
The murder charge also states Mr Birt was struck with a hammer or similar weapon.
The trio are finally said to have punched and kicked the man.
READ MORE:
It is further claimed they did previously display "malice and ill-will" towards him.
Kelt, Colvan and Harris face a separate allegation of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
This includes an accusation that they got rid of weapons used in the murder.
It is also claimed the trio changed their clothes and told a named man to wash the items.
The indictment claims this was all done in a bid to avoid "detection, arrest and prosecution" for the alleged killing.
This charge lists a number of different addresses in Barlanark.
The case called for a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow today.
Defence KCs Murray Macara, Donald Findlay and Tony Graham pled not guilty on behalf of each of the suspects.
The lawyers along with prosecutor Alex Prentice KC agreed a trial could set.
A continued preliminary hearing will take place in October this year at the High Court in Edinburgh after several legal issues were raised.
Mr Findlay said: "In cold cases, there will be particular issues that arise which are particular to this type of case.
"I have been in constant discussions as there are various matters.
"The advocate depute knows what I need to resolve and knows what I need from him."
A possible special defence may also be lodged by Mr Findlay in due course.
He said: "This is causing a little difficulty due to a trial from all these years."
Mr Prentice stated that the Crown will mostly rely on CCTV and witness accounts.
Lord Mulholland went on to fix a trial and it is scheduled to begin in October next year at the High Court in Glasgow. The case could last 16 days.
Police Scotland had renewed their appeal for information into Mr Birt's death in October 2022.
A senior detective also appeared on BBC's Crimewatch morning show.
Crimestoppers further offered a £20,000 reward to anyone who contacted them with information.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
PETER HITCHENS: I'm pleased public sentiment on Lucy Letby has shifted – but there's still one puzzle in this case that would baffle even Sherlock Holmes
How public opinion can change. Do you remember reporters rushing from the Manchester courthouse on August 18, 2023, breathlessly exclaiming, 'She's guilty!', moments after Lucy Letby 's convictions were announced? Looking back, do those journalists wonder if they might have said, in more measured tones, 'She's been found guilty'. For, as we now discover all too often, as innocent people stumble, blinking out of the High Court, having endured years of wrongful imprisonment, being convicted and being guilty are not necessarily the same thing.
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
Man 'seen lying on road' after cyclist 'knocked down by car' in Edinburgh
Around 9.30pm on August 11, officers raced to Nicolson Street and were seen blocking drivers. A city centre street in Edinburgh has been locked down by police after a cyclist was reportedly knocked down by a car. The incident took place at around 9.30pm on August 11, on Nicolson Street sparking emergency services to race to the scene. A cordon was then erected on the road with an ambulance in attendance. Buses were diverted while emergency services handled the scene. An eyewitness told Edinburgh Live:"a man was on his bike in the middle of the road" and a bike was beside him. Bus services for routes 2, 3, 30 and 31 were among those diverted. No casualties have been confirmed at this point. Another concerned 49-year-old passer-by said: "There was a man on his back in the middle of the road and a bike near him. "The emergency services were amazing. It's a busy street, particularly at this time of year and they were handling the situation really well." Edinburgh Live have approached Police Scotland for comment. Earlier we reported that a man was arrested and charged following the sexual assault of a woman on the same street last night. On Sunday August 10 at around 11.15pm, officers raced to Nicolson Street after being made aware of the incident. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The male was also charged in connection with the assault of a man, along with resisting arrest and an assault on two police officers. Pictures taken from the scene show a large police presence outside the Lidl supermarket and the man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "A 38-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with a sexual assault on a woman and an assault on a man in Nicolson Street, Edinburgh at 11.15pm on Sunday, 10 August, 2025. "He was also charged in connection with resisting arrest and an assault on two police officers. He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 12 August, 2025 in connection."
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Killer driver who took pal's life in crash had only passed test one day before & done doughnuts in car park
A TEEN motorist who passed his test the day before killing his friend in a car crash has admitted causing death by dangerous driving. Passenger Josh Atkins died in November 2023 when Corey Owen Cooper, then 17, lost control of the car after doing doughnuts in a car park. 3 3 Cooper had been speeding between 47mph and 53mph on 20mph roads in his grandfather's Fiat Grand Punto before the fatal crash in Sheffield. The teen pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and seriously injuring another passenger at a hearing in Sheffield Crown Court. Judge Jeremy Richardson KC released Cooper, now 19, on bail but warned him he faces jail on November 7. He said: "You will be sent into custody. The only issue for me to determine is for how long. There's also the question of disqualification. "In the interim, I will disqualify you from driving - that's to say you are not permitted by law to drive on public roads. "The likelihood is in fact almost an inevitability that you will be taken into custody. You have to prepare yourself for that." Prosecutor Ian West told the court Cooper only passed his driving test 24 hours before the crash. Mr West said: "He had driven the vehicle the day before, it belonged to his grandfather." Barristers representing Cooper are set to submit a basis of plea over the next week. It is understood to relate to Cooper's failure to note an error message which flashed up on the vehicle's "faulty ABS braking system". Josh's family and friends all celebrated the teen's short life with a charity walk through Hillsborough Park last November. Speaking at the time, Josh's auntie, Claire Chapman, said: "It was a great afternoon, even with the rain. "We all loved to see to see so many of Josh's friends turn out for him. "I think it was a day of remembrance and reflection rather than sadness." The two charities who benefited from the walk were The Donor Family Network, who support families of organ donors, and RoadPeace, a road crash victim awareness group. Josh's family announced that four people had benefited from Josh's organs which had been donated after his death. 3
