Latest news with #OrkneyAssassin:MurderintheIsles
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Chilling true crime documentary about 'Scotland's most controversial murder' leaves viewers baffled
The Amazon Prime Video documentary delves into the brutal 1994 murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood on a small Scottish island that was a cold case for years before an arrest was finally made. Amazon Prime Video has a number of gripping true crime docuseries on its streaming platform with one recently uploaded programme about one of Scotland's most controversial murder cases leaving viewers hooked. The Orkney Assassin: Murder in the Isles was uploaded to Amazon Prime earlier this summer and recounts the chilling 1994 murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood, a waiter at the Indian restaurant Mumtaz in Kirkwall, in a 90-minute documentary. The 26-year-old Bangladeshi national was brutally gunned down by a masked man in front of horrified diners, including families with children. Before his murder, Mahmood had been planning to return to Bangladesh and marry his girlfriend after working on the island the year before he was killed. After the shocking crime, the assassin vanished, leaving a long lasting impact on the island that still resonates today. The unusual case is now under scrutiny once more after the Orkney Assassin landed on the streaming platform in June. At the time of the crime, 15-year-old Michael Ross was the main suspect and was questioned but was never charged. The case gained notoriety due to Ross' young age and the fact he was an army cadet but he was ultimately released. However, after a lengthy 14-year investigation, a breakthrough in the case occurred when a witness came forward and said they had seen Ross on the night of the murder. Ross was finally convicted of Mahmood's murder in 2008 at the High Court in Glasgow. Upon hearing his guilty verdict, the ex-Black Watch soldier attempted to flee court before he was arrested. Ross' car was later found in a nearby supermarket car park, filled with weapons and camping gear, which he had been planning to use whilst on the run before his escape plan failed. Despite all this, Michael Ross has always insisted he is innocent. He is currently serving a 25-year sentence at HMP Shotts in Lanarkshire, one of Scotland's highest security prisons. Since his imprisonment, he has attempted to escape three times, which he claims are efforts to bring his case back into the public eye. His family, including father and former policeman Eddy Ross, mother Moira, and other members of the Orkney community are campaigning for his release as part of the J4MR - Justice 4 Michael Ross group. Viewers have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the documentary as one wrote on Letterboxd: "Worth a watch but be ready to shout at the TV." Another wrote on X: "Put on the Orkney Assassin documentary. It's such a surprising case. I would have been about 7 when it started and I was on Lewis - which tends to have a lot of connection with Orkney - but I don't remember this case at ALL." A third remarked: "Watching The Orkney Assassin, and it shows the difference between the islands and the mainland. Stuff like this simply doesn't happen on the islands. Hell, they don't even lock their doors!" The 1994 murder continues to divide the Orkney community to this day with local newspaper reporter Ethan Fleet explaining "There are a lot of inconsistencies and unanswered questions surrounding the case and the investigations that preceded the trial, dubious witnesses whose evidence seems to be rather important in the case, changing positions. Things like that got my interest in that." Prosecutor Brian McConnachie KC added: "I think there's always going to be two sides." He described the Orkney murder as a "challenging" case and his most high-profile one, saying: "The number of times I have been asked about the case is incredible by comparison to any other case I've ever been involved in."
Daily Record
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC Shetland fans told to binge new series following real Scottish island murder
The new documentary on Amazon Prime Video is a must-watch for fans of the BBC's Shetland Viewers who enjoy the BBC crime drama Shetland are advised to watch a forthcoming Amazon Prime Video documentary that delves into the real-life account of a murder in the Scottish islands. The Orkney Assassin: Murder in the Isles, a new feature-length documentary, will premiere on the streaming service later this week. The documentary recounts the shocking tale of a cold-blooded murder in Scotland and follows a family determined to secure their son Michael Ross's release from prison. According to Amazon Prime Video's synopsis: "One summer evening in 1994, a masked man walked calmly into the only Indian restaurant in the remote Orkney Islands and shot a waiter dead before disappearing into the night. "The murder remained unsolved for years, until new evidence emerged, resulting in an unexpected arrest that stunned the local community. "Featuring powerful new testimony, this twist-filled true crime documentary explores one of Scotland's most contentious cases." An exclusive preview shared with Reach hints at what's to come, with a "twist in the tale that nobody saw coming". The footage reveals that Michael Ross made a daring escape attempt from court in dramatic scenes, reports the Express. KC Brian McConnachie remarks: "I've been doing this for 40 years and I have never seen such a dramatic end to a trial." Former journalist Bob Dow adds: "It was so bizarre, it was so surreal, you couldn't make this up. "If you wrote this as a Hollywood movie script, no one would believe you. They would say it was unimaginable." While The Orkney Assassin is based on a real-life case and Shetland is purely fictional, BBC viewers may still find this series appealing due to its familiar themes and Scottish island setting. BBC's Shetland is a crime drama set predominantly on the eponymous archipelago, having first aired in March 2013. The series, adapted by David Kane, is based on the novels of Ann Cleeves and has previously bagged the award for Best TV Drama from BAFTA Scotland. The initial seven series starred Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Pérez, while Ashley Jensen took on the role of DI Ruth Calder from series 8. Whilst a release date for series 10 hasn't been confirmed, Shetland is anticipated to return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.
Edinburgh Live
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Shetland fans must watch jaw-dropping series about real life Scottish island murder
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 Fans of the BBC's crime drama Shetland are being encouraged to tune into a forthcoming Amazon Prime Video drama that delves into the true story of a murder in the Scottish isles. The Orkney Assassin: Murder in the Isles, a fresh feature documentary, will be available on the streaming service later this week. The film unravels the chilling tale of a ruthless murder in Scotland and shadows a family determined to free their son, Michael Ross, from prison. Amazon Prime Video's synopsis reveals: "One summer evening in 1994, a masked man walked calmly into the only Indian restaurant in the remote Orkney Islands and shot a waiter dead before disappearing into the night. "The murder remained unsolved for years, until new evidence emerged, resulting in an unexpected arrest that stunned the local community. "Featuring powerful new testimony, this twist-filled true crime documentary explores one of Scotland's most controversial cases." (Image: AMAZON PRIME) This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Prime Video free trial Get Prime Video free for 30 days TV lovers can get 30 days' free access to tantalising TV like The Boys, Reacher and Clarkson's Farm by signing up to Amazon Prime. Just remember to cancel at the end and you won't be charged. £0 Amazon Get Prime Video here An exclusive snippet shared with Reach also offers a sneak peek of what's in store, hinting at a "twist in the tale that nobody saw coming". In the clip, we learn that Michael Ross made a bold bid to flee the court in dramatic scenes, reports the Express. KC Brian McConnachie remarks: "I've been doing this for 40 years and I have never seen such a dramatic end to a trial." Former journalist Bob Dow also shares: "It was so bizarre, it was so surreal, you couldn't make this up. (Image: BBC) "If you wrote this as a Hollywood movie script, no one would believe you. They would say it was unimaginable." While The Orkney Assassin is rooted in a real-life case and Shetland is purely fictional, BBC enthusiasts might find this series appealing due to its shared themes and Scottish island backdrop. BBC's Shetland, a crime drama set predominantly on the titular archipelago, first graced our screens back in March 2013. The series, an adaptation of Ann Cleeves' novels by David Kane, has previously bagged the Best TV Drama award from BAFTA Scotland. (Image: AMAZON PRIME) Douglas Henshall led the first seven seasons as DI Jimmy Pérez, with Ashley Jensen stepping into the role of DI Ruth Calder from season 8. While we're still awaiting confirmation of a release date for season 10, Shetland is anticipated to make a comeback on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year. The Orkney Assassin: Murder in the Isles will be available on Prime Video in the UK & Ireland on June 8.
Press and Journal
02-06-2025
- Press and Journal
Orkney Assassin: New Amazon show to revisit night teen killed waiter in shocking racist murder
A new documentary will revisit the shocking racist murder of a Bangladeshi waiter in Orkney in 1994 – and the 14-year long investigation to convict teenage killer Michael Ross. Ross was just 15 years old when he shot waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood in a racially motivated killing. BAFTA-winning film-maker Matt Pinder will tell the story of the murder in a new feature-length true crime show on Amazon Prime. Pinder, known for his trilogy The Hunt for… has covered notorious Scottish killers like Peter Tobin and Bible John. His latest film Orkney Assassin: Murder in the Isles follows the 14-year hunt that led to Ross's conviction. In June of 1994, a masked gunman entered Mumutaz, a busy curry house in Kirkwall, and fatally shot 27-year-old Shamsuddin Mahmood. Mahmood had only been on the Orkney Islands for six weeks before the fatal shooting took place. The 26-year-old was working as a waiter and planning to return home to Bangladesh to marry his fiancée. Michael Ross, then 15, was interviewed by police after two witnesses saw him in similar clothes to the killer weeks earlier. Ross admitted to having a balaclava, which he had disposed of by dropping into the sea. His friends also denied Ross's alibi for the night of the shooting. Police also discovered disturbing Nazi imagery and racist slogans scrawled in his school books. Although he was interviewed as a teenager a few months after the murder, Ross was not charged at the time. It took more than a decade for police to uncover the truth and bring Ross to trial at the High Court. In the years following the killing, Michael Ross joined the British Army and became a highly trained sniper. He became a sergeant in the Black Watch and was praised for bravery following a 2005 Iraq tour. In 2008, a handwritten tip from a witness William Grant, placed Ross at the scene on the night of the murder. His statement reignited the case and led to a new trial. Other witnesses testified that Ross expressed racist views as a teen and borrowed his father's firearms. Michael Ross was finally convicted of the murder Shamsuddin Mahmood in 2008 and handed a minimum sentence of 25 years. After the guilty verdict was read, Ross vaulted from the dock and attacked courtroom security. He escaped into a court corridor before being tackled and restrained by officers. Investigators later discovered Ross had parked a getaway car loaded with weapons near the court building. The convicted killer also attempted to escape HMP Shotts prison with a homemade ladder in 2022. Ross and his family have maintained his innocence in the murder and believe he was wrongfully convicted of the crime. The Orkney Assassin: Murder in the Isles will be available on Prime Video in the UK & Ireland on June 8. Read more in our Michael Ross archives.
