12-08-2025
Clydebank murderer's prison death to be probed in FAI
Edward Simpson, 55, died from Covid-19 in Ninewells Hospital whilst serving a life sentence at HMP Castle Huntly, near Dundee, on March 18, 2022.
Simpson was jailed in March 2002 after being convicted of murdering his teenage son Eddie Junior the previous November.
He showed no remorse after plunging the knife into his son's chest outside their home in Bannerman Place, Clydebank.
Simpson killed his 18-year-old son in front of his brother, aged 11, sister, aged 10, and the teen's girlfriend, aged 17.
He denied the murder on November 23, 2001, but a four-day trial ended in a unanimous guilty verdict.
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Now, a joint FAI has been announced for Simpson and John Ian Reid, 63, who also died in hospital after contracting the Covid-19 virus while in legal custody at HMP Glenochil in Clackmannanshire.
The FAI will determine the cause of death, the circumstances in which the deaths occurred, and establish what reasonable precautions could have been taken to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances.
Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature and are used to establish facts rather than apportion blame.
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The deaths were investigated by the Covid-19 Deaths Investigation Team within the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for COPFS, said: 'The deaths of Edward Simpson and John Ian Reid occurred while in legal custody and as such a Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory.
'The lodging of these First Notices enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of a Sheriff.'
Preliminary hearings will be held on August 29, 2025, at Dundee Sheriff Court.
