Orkney Assassin living in 'no man's land' as Michael Ross pleads innocence 30 years on
Michael Ross' lawyer has described his client's existence as akin to being in "no man's land" while he continues to assert his innocence three decades on.
Back in June 1994, an individual donning a balaclava entered the Mumataz Restaurant in Kirkwall at approximately 7.10pm and fatally shot 26-year-old waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood before exiting the premises.
Ross, who was a teenager at the time of the crime, was eventually arrested and found guilty of the murder in 2008.
Following his guilty verdict, Ross notoriously attempted to flee the High Court in Glasgow but failed and is currently serving a life sentence 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 law enforcement officers, eyewitnesses, journalists, and Ross' parents.
Speaking exclusively with Screen Time prior to the documentary's premiere, Ross' lawyer Aamer Anwar provided insights into his client's current situation.
"I suppose he's very much in no man's land," he stated.
"The difficulty with an appeal is...if 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 significance 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."
Despite three decades having passed, Ross continues to maintain his innocence.
The former Army sniper has attempted to break out of prison thrice, with his most recent attempt in 2018 involving an effort 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."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Labour police boss blasted after handing £5k of taxpayers' cash to help save Liverpool Pride
A Labour Police and Crime Commissioner has been criticised after it emerged she handed over £5,000 of taxpayers' cash for a gay pride march – just weeks before a High Court judge ruled that allowing uniformed police officers to take part in such a parade was biased and unlawful. Emily Spurrell, a former councillor and PCC for Merseyside, made the donation of public money to 'save' Liverpool Pride, which was under threat because of a shortage of funds. The cash from her office – which was the top donation of any organisation or individual – helped the event to go ahead as planned, on July 26. But just days earlier Northumbria Police was admonished by the High Court for allowing uniformed police officers to march under a Progress flag promoting transgender ideology at a pride march last year. In his ruling, Mr Justice Linden said it was 'contrary to the uniformed officers' duties of impartiality', as well as Northumbria Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine's 'own duty of impartiality, to participate in the 2024 march, in Newcastle, in the way that they did.' His judgement had immediate repercussions for police forces nationwide, with some opting to ban their officers from marching and taking part in such future events – unless policing it in an official capacity. Yesterday critics said Ms Spurrell's decision to make the donation when the High Court case was 'on the horizon' was 'an extraordinary misuse of public funds' and 'simply stupefying.' Sarah Pochin, Reform UK MP for nearby Runcorn and Helsby, said: 'The Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner's £5,000 donation to Liverpool Pride is an extraordinary misuse of public funds. 'With rising crime and anti-social behaviour, taxpayers want to see safer streets not political gestures.' Another outraged local told the Mail: 'When other forces are following the ruling and making cancellations in relation to Pride events – the Merseyside PCC was shelling out thousands - that's in no way impartial. 'The decision to make the donation when that High Court case was on the horizon was simply stupefying.' Under police regulations, which are set out in legislation, officers have a duty to act with impartiality and must avoid activities likely to interfere with the impartial discharge of their duties. Allowing Northumbria police officers to march in Newcastle's 2024 Pride in the City parade, and to staff a police stall decorated in the colours of the Progress flag, alongside a van painted in the same design, breached that duty, the judge found. He agreed with lawyers for Linzi Smith, a lesbian who brought the case against the Northumbria force, that when police officers appeared in uniform or under official branding while displaying the Progress flag, it suggested an alignment or support for gender ideology or transgender rights. The Progress Pride flag is a variation on the original rainbow banner adopted by gay rights campaigners in the 1970s. It has extra colours to represent trans and non-binary people, as well as people of colour and those living with Aids. Soon after the ruling, Chief Constable Tim Forber, of neighbouring North Yorkshire police, said any officers from his force who wished to participate in such parades, who were not officially on duty or 'actively engaged in policing the event,' would not be permitted to wear uniform. 'Participating in protest activity, or parades that support any 'cause' can quite rightly undermine the public's confidence in that impartiality,' he said. 'I do not allow the altering of police uniform or the changing of the livery of police vehicles to show support for any cause.' Similarly, Greater Manchester Police officers were also told they will not be able to take part and 'represent the force' at this year's Manchester Pride parade later this month. In a letter to staff, Assistant Chief Constable Stephanie Parker said the High Court ruling had concluded that 'such participation could reasonably be perceived by the public as the police taking a side in ongoing societal and political debates.' She specifically highlighted gender identity and 'related issues' in the correspondence. While GMP 'remains steadfast in its commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion' and 'would continue to support LGBTQ 'colleagues and communities', Ms Parker said they also needed to 'uphold the principle of operational impartiality'. The senior officer added that staff will continue to be able to attend Manchester Pride 'in a personal capacity' and encouraged 'everyone to continue celebrating and supporting our diverse communities'. 'We understand this may be disappointing to many, but this decision has been made to ensure we remain compliant with legal expectations and maintain public confidence in our impartiality,' she added.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Luxury watch dealer that counts Premier League stars including Wayne Rooney as clients goes bust with £1m of debts
A LUXURY watch dealer who counts Premier League stars among his clients has gone bust with debts of nearly £1million. Josh Bardsley — brother of ex- Man United player Phil — set up Avant-Garde Global in 2018 and built up a celebrity client list. 3 3 But his company, which owed £949,984, was wound up in the High Court in June last year. A source said: 'Josh has been keeping a low profile. "There's quite a few people keen to find him as they want to know what has happened to their money. 'Some of his footballer mates gave him a leg-up financially. "But no one knows where he is. "The players are angry that he's betrayed their trust.' Josh was said to have used his football links to build up his business, supplying high-end watches. He was pictured in 2020 delivering a £50,000 Rolex to his brother's close pal Wayne Rooney. The crash comes as Phil and wife Tanya star in ITV reality show The Bardsley Bunch. Josh last night denied any wrongdoing and insisted he remained on good terms with brother Phil. Wife of Man Utd goalkeeper Andre Onana 'robbed of £62K handbag and Rolex' in horror theft as man, 25, charged
Glasgow Times
11 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
More than £500,000 of cocaine seized including from drugs handover
Officers had carried out two raids within days of each other in Paisley, Renfrewshire, in 2023. Andrew Crossey had been the target of surveillance, and he was clocked leaving his home in his white Audi on May 2. The 42-year-old pulled up in the town's Hawkhead Cemetery. Associate Sean Teesdale turned up in a BMW. READ MORE: Children in 'total shock' after being evacuated from Glasgow home amid blaze READ MORE: Nurse in the dock after verbal 'rammy' at school gates The 28-year-old briefly got into Crossey's motor before returning to his own and driving off. Prosecutor David McLean told the High Court in Glasgow that tracking police then tried to stop Teesdale at traffic lights in the city's Nitshill. But, he drove off and was spotted chucking items out of the car window. Teesdale was, however, finally halted – a total of £1605 of cash was initially discovered in the motor. The discarded packages were also collected and found to be cocaine with a purity of 81 per cent. The haul had a potential value of around £38,000. Teesdale generally made no comment when quizzed, but did state: 'Wrong place at wrong time - I should not have been there and that is that.' READ MORE: Man's body found in wooded area of busy park Fingerprints linked both him and Crossey to the consignment. Police, meantime, kept Crossey under watch – he was seen on May 11 with a yellow 'Bag for Life' and then getting into a white Mercedes van. He was later clocked in Paisley, where 32-year-old Gary McGhee got in the vehicle and then left with the bag. McGhee went into a property in the Shortroods area of the town, where police then swooped. Officers checked the house, found the bathroom locked before McGhee opened its door. Mr McLean: 'They immediately saw the yellow 'Bag for Life' on the floor along with what appeared to be blocks of controlled drugs, later identified as cocaine, as well as a large black handled kitchen knife.' The drugs had a purity of up to almost 80 per cent. The court heard the stash had a potential value of around £500,000. Forensic evidence again helped pin the traffickers to this haul. Crossey, of Paisley, admitted to two drug supply charges with McGhee, also of the town, and Teesdale, of Stewarton, Ayrshire, one each. Lady Ross deferred sentencing for reports until a later date.
