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- Daily Record
Inside one of Scotland's most controversial murder cases which split small community
As The Orkney Assassin airs on Amazon Prime, Reach Screen Time speaks to two people involved in the case
One of Scotland's most notorious murder cases is once again under scrutiny, thanks to a new documentary from Prime Video, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
The Orkney Assassin delves into the chilling 1994 murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood, a waiter at the Indian restaurant Mumtaz in Kirkwall.
Mahmood, a 26 year old Bangladeshi national, was brutally shot by a masked man in front of horrified diners, including families with children.
Planning to return to Bangladesh and marry his girlfriend, Mahmood had previously worked on the island the year before his untimely death.
After the shocking crime, the gunman disappeared into the night, leaving a lasting impact on the island that still resonates today.
Michael Ross, who was just 15 at the time of the murder, was initially questioned by police but subsequently released.
However, after a lengthy 14-year investigation, ex-Black Watch soldier Ross was finally convicted for the murder in 2008.
In a dramatic turn of events, Ross attempted to flee the court following the guilty verdict, nearly making it out the door before being apprehended.
A stash of weapons and camping equipment was later discovered in a vehicle hired by Ross in a nearby supermarket car park, which he claimed was part of his plan to escape and live off the land rather than face imprisonment.
Ross is currently serving a 25-year sentence at HMP Shotts in Lanarkshire, one of Scotland's highest security prisons. He has made three escape attempts, which he claims were efforts to bring his case back into the public eye.
Despite his conviction, Ross has always maintained his innocence. 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.
Reach Screen Time exclusively interviewed both local newspaper reporter Ethan Flett and prosecutor Brian McConnachie KC, who provided further insights into the case that continues to divide the Orkney Island community.
Flett, who keeps a close eye on the case as new information comes to light, commented: "I think there's quite a split in the community between those that think Ross is guilty and those that think he's innocent."
Discussing why doubts persist about Ross' guilt despite the conviction, Flett observed: "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."
The journalist from Orkney's longest-running newspaper The Orcadian also noted that despite the "thorough police work" in the unprecedented case, "certain things were missed that look quite important", as well as issues with how the case was managed.
Prosecutor McConnachie shared Flett's concerns about the divisions within the local community, stating: "I suspect it still does affect people."
Although McConnachie is not an Orkney resident, he noted: "I think there's always going to be two sides."
As the case took place in a relatively small community, McConnachie observed that it would inevitably impact the local atmosphere, with people holding differing views on Ross' innocence or guilt, particularly since his family still resides there.
McConnachie 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."
Regarding the ongoing interest in the case, McConnachie attributed it to the fact that "I think because things keep happening" including Ross' multiple escape attempts, the most recent being in 2018.
Addressing the lingering doubts about Ross' guilt, McConnachie stated: "I certainly haven't seen anything since the trial back in 2008 that suggests to me that the jury got it wrong."
McConnachie further noted: "If you are trying to look for things that point towards guilt, then you might look at the circumstances of the last day of the trial, and the motor vehicle that he had and the things he had in them when he tried to escape from the court - never mind trying to escape from the prison. That there's something unnerving about what was contained within the car."
Touching on the unwavering campaigns for Ross's freedom, he remarked, "I think if you are a family member and somebody is convicted and they tell you there are innocent, then the likelihood is that you are going to take their position on it and perhaps try and assist them as best you can in overcoming what they see as being a miscarriage of justice."
Audiences are now able to watch The Orkney Assassin, which offers a comprehensive examination into the harrowing murder case and considers both perspectives.
