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STV News
a day ago
- STV News
Three suspects to stand trial over murder of man in Glasgow 22 years ago
Three suspects are to stand trial, charged with the murder of a man more than 20 years ago. Malcolm Kelt, 52, Alan Colvan, 42, and Marc Harris, 39, are accused of killing Darren Birt in Glasgow's Barlanark on August 28, 2002. It is initially claimed that they shouted and threatened the 22-year-old, chased after him and hit him with a bottle. Prosecutors claim he was then repeatedly attacked on the head and body with a knife or knives. The murder charge states Mr Birt was also struck with a hammer or similar weapon. The trio are also said to have punched and kicked the man. It is further claimed they previously displayed '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 that the trio changed their clothes and told another 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 on Monday. 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 on Mr Birt's death in October 2022. A senior detective also appeared on the BBC's Crimewatch morning show. Crimestoppers further offered a £20,000 reward to anyone who contacted them with information. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Glasgow Times
3 suspects accused of murder of man in Glasgow 20 years ago
Malcolm Kelt, 52, Alan Colvan, 42, and Marc Harris, 39, are accused of killing Darren Birt in Glasgow's Barlanark on August 28 2002. It is initially claimed they did shout and threaten the 22-year-old as well as chase after him and hit him with a bottle. READ NEXT: Glasgow man stealing from cars spat and told cops he had HIV READ NEXT: Springburn man accused of badly mistreating six animals leaving them sick 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. 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.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- The Herald Scotland
Trio to stand trial charged with murdering man 23 years ago
It is initially claimed they did shout and threaten the 22-year-old as well as chase after him and hit him with a bottle. 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.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-BBC boss says most staff seek to be impartial amid Gaza documentary row
Almost everyone working at the BBC does their best to be fair, accurate and impartial, a former boss of the broadcaster has said, amid controversy over a documentary on Gaza which featured the son of a Hamas official. While people make mistakes, as in any large institution, Lord Birt argued the corporation was 'the single most respected news organisation in the whole world from Scunthorpe to the Sudan'. The independent crossbencher made his comments at Westminster after the BBC removed the documentary Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone from its on demand service when it emerged that the child narrator is the son of Ayman Alyazouri, who has worked as Hamas's deputy minister of agriculture. The broadcaster apologised last week for 'serious flaws' in the making of the programme after conducting an initial review and it has launched a further internal probe. In a letter to the BBC on Monday, Ofcom chairman Lord Grade said the regulator could step in if an internal inquiry into the making of the documentary is not satisfactory. Lord Grade, a non-affiliated peer, said Ofcom has 'ongoing concerns about the nature and gravity of these failings and the negative impact they have on the trust audiences place in the BBC's journalism'. Speaking in Parliament, Lord Birt, who was director-general of the BBC from 1992 to 2000, said: 'Like in any major organisation, people working for the BBC make mistakes and mistakes must be exposed when they happen and the lessons learnt. 'But would the minister agree that the reason why the BBC is the single most respected news organisation in the whole world from Scunthorpe to the Sudan is that almost everyone who works for the BBC is wholly committed and is doing their best to be fair, accurate and impartial?' Responding, media minister Baroness Twycross said: 'It is a really important point he makes that when we get these incidents it can be hugely demoralising for people who are working really hard to get that accurate, impartial information.' She added: 'We do have to make sure that we understand exactly what went wrong and the BBC is undertaking a thorough investigation into that and Ofcom and the Secretary of State are very cognisant of the issues and also wanting answers.' Earlier, she told peers: 'It's right that the BBC is conducting a thorough investigation into what happened and who knew what when. 'I won't prejudge the outcome of the BBC's investigation.' While former lord speaker Lord Fowler shared the criticism of the programme at the centre of the row, he added: 'But I think we should recognise that that does not in any way describe the BBC's general coverage of Gaza.' Speaking as a former journalist who had covered the Middle East conflict, the independent crossbencher told peers: 'What struck me was the way that BBC journalists strived for impartiality in all their reporting and as far as I can see that is the same today.' Lady Twycross said: 'We do expect to have that high standard of journalism, which is why the BBC has traditionally been a trusted source of news both in this country and overseas and that is one of the reasons why this incident is so serious.'
