Fears grow for Gaza mercy mission Scots

By Paul Thornton

FEARS grew last night for the safety of five Scottish peace activists who were caught-up in the Israeli capture of a convoy of ships taking aid to Gaza.

Theresa McDermott, 43, and Ali Awaisi, 21, Hasan Nowarah, 45, Hassan Ghani, 24, were among hundreds of campaigners on six ships heading to the war-torn Gaza strip.

Israeli commandos stormed the flotilla on Sunday night into yesterday morning, killing at least 10 people and injuring many more.

Some reports have placed the death toll as high as 19.

Another Scot is believed to be part of the group, the survivors of which are believed to be being held by Israeli authorities.

Young golfing hopefuls fly in for junior tournament

HUNDREDS of young golfers have flown in from around the world to take part in the junior European Champion tournament being held in June.

As many as 500 players – aged from six to 18 years old – will tee off around four Links courses in East Lothian.

Real life Cracker: “Suzanne death could be accident”

By Paul Thornton

A REAL life Cracker has said that Suzanne Pilley’s killer may have taken her life by mistake and hidden the body in a panic.

Dr Ian Stephen, who advised on the hit crime drama starring Robbie Coltrane, said that details of the murder case suggest that the 38-year-old’s murder had not been planned.

The consultant criminal psychologist, who regularly helps police forces with complex cases, points to claims that the bookkeeper’s killer shopped for a spade, clothes and make-up in a remote Argyll village, as evidence that the death may have happened unexpectedly.

Dr Stephen said that had whoever killed Suzanne planned to do it, then he would expect the murderer to be better prepared.

Helicopter lifts rally driver to hospital after smash

By Paul Thornton

A RALLY car navigator was recovering in hospital last night after a horror crash at an event in Berwickshire.

Andy Richardson was pulled from the wreck by rally workers after the Fiesta R2 he was co-driving smashed into a tree during the Jim Clark Rally on Saturday.

Mr Richardson was pulled from the wrecked car and airlifted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary by air ambulance following the smash near Duns around 11am.

He was being treated for back injuries although they are not thought to be life threatening, while the racing driver Peter Taylor was uninjured.

Mr Richardson, from Penrith, was guiding Mr Taylor, from Carlisle, in the driver’s first ever rally season when the crash happened.

Heather’s bones binned by bungling cleaners

By Paul Thornton

MISSING bones from the body of tragic Heather Stacey were chucked out by workers hired to clear out her flat after she was evicted.

The murdered 44-year-old was given the boot from the Edinburgh flat weeks before her dismembered remains were found scattered across the capital.

And when council bosses sent in a squad of cleaners to empty the property for new tenants in December 2008 their bungling workers found a bone belonging to the mother-of-four.

Instead of reporting the gruesome find –thought to be part of Heather’s arm – the firm simply took it to a waste disposal site and it has never been seen again.

Heather moved into the flat in January 2007 but lost contact with family and support workers towards the end of that year.

Little was anyone to know that her fiancé Alan Cameron, 56, had murdered the woman he was supposed to love.

It is not known how Cameron killed Heather but she died sometime between November 29 and December 11, 2007.

Bullet Found After “Warning Shot” At House

By Michael MacLeod and Shaun Milne

A BULLET recovered by police at the scene of a drive by shooting could hold vital clues in tracking down who was behind the incident.

Detectives are probing the shot fired at an address in Dalkeith, Midlothian, at around 11.25pm on Wednesday.

Damage caused by the bullet could be seen at the home of George Rae, 39, who police sources say was also the target of recent threats made at the start of the month.

The blast left his neighbours in Woodburn Avenue shocked, with many last night saying a feud had been bubbling under for some time.

Murder Accused Appears In Court Over Mirza Death

By Paul Thornton

A 48-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in court charged with murder following the death of Edinburgh man Mohammad Mirza.

Mr Mirza, 47, died following an incident at his Stenhouse Gardens North flat in the city on Wednesday.

Today (Fri) at Edinburgh Sheriff Court Mustafa Elsherski appeared in private on petition.

Elsherski, also from Edinburgh, made no plea or declaration to charges of murder and assault to injury.

He was committed for further examination and remanded following a brief appearance before Sheriff John Horsburgh.

Man In Court Over Attempted Rape Of American Student

By Cara Sulieman

A MAN appeared at court today (Fri) charged with the attempted rape of an American student in Edinburgh last weekend.

Gavin Lang, 23, from Dunfermline, Fife, made no plea or declaration and was released on bail following an appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

The 22-year-old student had been out with friends on her second night in the capital when she was allegedly assaulted on her way home.

The alleged attack happened between 4am and 4.20am on Monday May 24 in Barries Close – a narrow staircase that leads up from Old Fishmarket Close to Parliament Square on the Royal Mile.

The victim, from Virginia, had only just arrived in the city and was due to spend a week in Edinburgh before going to London with other students and lecturers from her American university as part of a four-week placement in the UK.

Grumpy Stumpy Balancing Act Leaves Him Happy As Harry

By Cara Sulieman

A DOG nicknamed ‘Grumpy Stumpy’ spent almost a year mastering how to go to the toilet – after an operation to amputate his front limb left him tumbling over every time he went for a wee.

The Lhasa Apso, now called Harry, had been taken to Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home after suffering from horrific neglect.

His coat was so matted it cut off the circulation to his front leg, forcing shocked vets to amputate to get his blood circulation flowing again.

But the dog struggled to adapt to life on three legs when he found a new home and kept falling over every time he went to the toilet.

Stray

David Ewing, 53, General Manager at the home, said: “Harry came in as a stray dog.

“The first thing we noticed was that his front leg was grossly swollen and his hair was extremely matted and we knew something was very, very wrong with that leg.

Apple iPad Sparks Sales Rush From Scottish Gadget Fans

By Michael MacLeod

SCOTLAND went iPad crazy today (fri) as hundreds of people queued to get their hands on this year’s must have gadget.

And among the Apple worshippers in the queue at its Glasgow store wasn’t a young up and coming web developer or dot-com businessman – but a pensioner.

Retired linen factory owner William Boyd, 78, from Fife, claimed he had never even used a computer in his life – let alone a touch screen tablet.

But he wanted to be one of the first to pick up the handheld device at the Glasgow Apple Store.

He hopes to use it to stay in touch with his family and keep an eye on the stock exchange.

And although he is keen to catch up with the digital generation, Mr Boyd insists an iPad will never replace his love for picking up a real-life newspaper.

He said: “I wanted an iPad for many reasons, the main being the simplicity of operating it.

“At least, I hope it is going to be simple.

“I have never used a computer before in my life but I will use mine for the internet, emails to keep in touch with the family and things like that.”