Murder trial teen may have trapped girlfriend in burning bedroom

By Paul Thornton

A MURDER accused teen may have held a door closed to stop his flame-engulfed girlfriend from escaping a burning room, a court has heard.

A bent handle on the door of the bedroom that Jessica McCagh burnt to death in could indicate that Stewart Blackburn trapped her in the blaze after setting her on fire, according to a forensic fire expert.

Jessica died at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee shortly after the inferno at Blackburn’s flat in Arbroath on April 25 this year.

Blackburn, 18, admits killing Jessica but denies murder and is on trial at the High Court in Livingston.

Today Andrew Wade, a fire investigator with First Forensic Limited, told the jury of 10 men and five women that the charred scene at the flat was consistent with Blackburn trapping the tragic farm worker in.

BrewDog launches staggeringly strong beer

By Rory Reynolds

A SCOTS brewery has caused a storm after launching the world’s strongest beer on the day that the Scottish Government fought to keep the Alcohol Bill alive.

BrewDog – who already sell an 18.2 per cent beer called Tokyo* – launched Tactical Nuclear Penguin after 16 months of aging at artic temperatures.

The beer – which costs a staggering £30 per 330ml bottle – has brought the firm under fire from the Government and alcohol campaign groups for flaunting their product’s strength.

Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said the move was a “deeply cynical marketing ploy” by the brewing firm.

He said: “BrewDog are piggybacking on what is a very serious issue for Scotland.

Sturgeon says opposition will “pay a heavy price” for opposing Scots anti-booze bill

By Rory Reynolds

HEALTH secretary Nicola Sturgeon has laid into opposition parties over their decision to block the controversial Alcohol Bill, saying they will “pay a heavy price” for their actions.

Speaking on the morning that Labour announced they would prevent the bill from being passed at Holyrood, Sturgeon said those who oppose the Alcohol Bill “will have a lot of explaining to do” to communities in Scotland.

Yesterday Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray sunk the SNP administration’s plans to pass the bill, describing the proposal to introduce a minimum price on alcohol is “hugely flawed”.

But Sturgeon hit back saying: “I think Labour are making an enormous error of judgement here.

“They are putting party politics ahead of public health, they are effectively telling the BMA, the RCN, chief constables of our police forces and a growing number of people in the Scottish population that they are wrong.

Flare-throwing SPL steward banned from football

By Michael MacLeod

A FOOTBALL steward has been banned from every ground in Britain for a year after throwing a flare onto a pitch.

The court order means Michael Smith, 21, will lose his pitch-side security job with SPL side Falkirk.

He was arrested at a high-tempered derby match between rivals Linlithgow Rose and Bo’ness United when cops spotted the smoke bomb being hurled onto the pitch.

It wasn’t hard for officers to trace the arc smoke back to Smith, who was fined £1,000 and branded “mindless” by a Sheriff today (Thurs).

A Falkirk insider said last night: “This is exactly the kind of thing we employ stewards to stop other people doing, never mind doing it themselves.

“It’s completely stupid, but stewards are never the brightest anyway.

“We’ll be speaking to police, but it will be an instant dismissal.”

Pictish warrior throne brings Scots history to life

By Tom Walker

THE FIRST ever replica of a 1000-year-old Pictish throne has been unveiled at the National Museum of Scotland after months of painstaking research and craftsmanship.

The original throne – thought to be the seat of a bloodthirsty warrior king – no longer exists, but the replica is intended to give visitors a glimpse of Scotland’s brutal tribal past.

Today (Thursday) the National Museum of Scotland unveiled the throne, which was commissioned in partnership with Glenmorangie Single Malt and is set to move around Scotland first going on display at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre from 1 December.

David Clark at National Museums of Scotland said: “Thrones were symbols of authority and power and as such would have been a very important part of Early Historic Scottish society that has hitherto been rather overlooked.

“There are no surviving examples of thrones from Early Historic Scotland and during the process of recreating this piece we’ve learnt so much about the design, manufacture and use of these thrones.

SuBo shows off her new album

By Cara Sulieman

SUSAN Boyle shrugged off claims that she had a break down during her visit to America earlier this week as she signed autographs for fans outside her home in Blackburn.

The star has been pictured in tears as she was surrounded by fans in New York’s Rockefeller Centre, where she was doing a live performance for NBC’s Today show.

But she said that her trip had been “absolutely brilliant” as she proudly posed with her debut album.

Casually dressed in a cream jumper and sporting a black beret adorned with jewels to keep away the cold, the 48-year-old waved to passers-by on the narrow street where she lives.

Tributes for woman who died after being hit by a car

Fiona Clason

By Cara Sulieman

 

FRIENDS have paid touching tributes to a young woman who died after being hit by a car at the weekend.

Fiona Clason died at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh on Monday, the day after she was struck by a car on the capital’s waterfront.

The family of the 24-year-old were too upset to speak yesterday (Thurs) but friends of Ms Clason left touching messages on her social networking profile.

The University of Dundee graduate described herself as a fan of Hibs, Formula 1 racing and American Wrestling on her Facebook page.

High winds close Edinburgh castle

By Cara Sulieman

EDINBURGH Castle had to close its doors for the first time in over a year because of high winds.

Staff at the popular tourist attraction took the precaution after recording wind speeds of up to 60mph at the high points of the building.

Initially it was hoped that the castle would be able to open late on Wednesday, but the weather didn’t improve and Historic Scotland decided to wait until today (Thurs) to allow tourists back in.

The esplanade was also shut, and staff were positioned at the entrance to explain the situation to visitors.

Schoolkids banned from playing British Bulldogs

By Cara Sulieman

IT HAS been a popular playground game for generations, but children in one Scottish school have been banned from playing British Bulldogs on “health and safety grounds”.

Pupils at Edinburgh’s Firrhill High School have been told not to play the game, along with other “physical” pastimes such as wrestling.

The game involves kids running across the field and trying to break through a human chain formed by the other team.

It has had a revival in recent years as schoolchildren are encouraged to be more active in the playground – but has been banned in schools across the country.