Police investigate mystery Fife death

By Martin Graham

POLICE are probing a mystery death after a man’s body was found in Fife over the weekend.

Hedi Rhouma, 33, was found in a wooded area behind his family home in Inverkeithing on Sunday.

Mr Rhouma was reported missing on Tuesday, July 13 after he disappeared from his home in the town’s Preston Crescent.

Police had cordoned off the area where the keep-fit enthusiast was found and were searching an area behind the end-terrace house.

His parents Nancy and Daoud, 55, were last night coming to terms with Mr Rhouma’s death at the home they shared with their son.

Family and colleagues pay tribute to “charismatic” cyclist killed in accident

Dr Kostas Tourlas

By Cara Sulieman

SHOCKED colleagues of a cyclist who was killed in a tragic road accident at the weekend paid tribute to a “charismatic” and “popular” man today.

Dr Kostas Tourlas died in the collision with a Fiat Ulysse near Kirkliston Sports Centre on Saturday.

Workmates of the 37-year-old spoke of their “shock and disbelief” at his death.

Dr Tourlas had worked at London-based software consultancy firm Adelard since 2003 and moved to the capital about a year ago.

Sheriff Rules Man’s Methadone Death Entirely Preventable

by Shaun Milne

THE death of a man given methadone at a private clinic in the Borders was “entirely preventable” a Sheriff has ruled.

An inquiry heard previously that Kieran Nichol, 20, a known valium addict, was prescribed the heroin substitute in December 2005 not long after he was readmitted to Castle Craig Hospital at Blyth Bridge for treatment.

He died two days after going back to the hospital.

Sheriff Gordon Liddle, who presided over a Fatal Accident inquiry into his death, said in his report that “different decisions or choice by a number of individuals could have made the difference”.

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Anguish as valuable WWII medals are stolen

By Michael MacLeod

A WWII hero’s son has been left devastated after thieves took his late father’s precious war medals.

Navy man Alexander Sim earned four honours for his role transporting prisoners of the Second World War before his death in 1991.

His son James returned from holiday to find his “only links” to his father had disappeared after his flat was ransacked.

James, 53, said he could understand if thieves made off with his laptop computer or valuable camera, but asked: “Why the medals?”

Hall of fame honour for haunted Rangers’ record scorer

By Michael MacLeod

A RANGERS player wrongly blamed for one of Scottish football’s most tragic accidents is to be honoured in a hall of fame.

Striker Sam English quit football aged 28 after a fateful tackle killed Celtic goalkeeper John Thomson in 1931.

An official enquiry cleared English of any blame, but he was routinely booed by opposing fans and released by the Gers within a year.

But he still holds the record as Rangers’ top league goalscorer with 44 goals in 35 games.

Architect grilled over balcony gap after Ben’s tragic fall

DIGNIFIED: Ben's parents Ross and Louise leave court

By Michael MacLeod

THE grieving family of a toddler who tragically fell to his death through a gap in a balcony at his mother’s office have been told there was “no reason” for the gap to be there.

Little Ben McCreath was just 21-months old when he plunged 15-feet to his death from the first floor of Edinburgh’s Princes Exchange building, where his mother Louise worked as a part-time receptionist.

Today (Friday) she and husband Ross watched on tearfully during the second day of evidence at a Fatal Accident Inquiry into their son’s death.

They heard the building’s architect Mark McPhillips admitting he made changes to the original building plans, which ultimately proved fatal for Ben.

Tragic Christmas Day driver laid to rest

By Cara Sulieman

A TRAGIC driver who died on Christmas Day after crashing on the icy Scottish roads will be laid to rest next week.

Malcolm Reid suffered fatal injuries in the accident on the A90 Forfar to Brechin Road at around 1pm on Christmas Day.

The 71-year-old died at the scene despite the efforts of a medical trauma team and ambulance crew.

His wife June – who was travelling in the car with him – will be joined by his children and grandchildren at the service at Mortonhall Crematorium Main Chapel on Monday January 11.

June, 73, was seriously injured in the smash, and was treated for bruising and internal injuries at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

The couple were driving along the A90 just hours after it had reopened after black ice closed parts of the dual carriageway.

Malcolm’s children and their partners – Carolyn, Mike, Lynda and Lex – will be joining June at the funeral at 3pm on Monday.

Police name fatal car accident victim

By Oliver Farrimond

POLICE have named the passenger killed in fatal road smash on Sunday morning.

Subramaniyam Thavaselvam, 39, died after the Daewoo Leganza he was in collided with a Ford Fiesta on the A701 south of Tweedsmuir just before 10.30am.

The 41-year-old driver of the Daewoo suffered chest and stomach injuries, and another man in the car was taken the hospital for observation.

The driver of the Fiesta, which was travelling south when it struck the south-bound Daewoo, was uninjured.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward with information about the smash which killed Mr Thavaselvam, from Middlesex, and also saw two passengers of the Ford Fiesta treated for injuries, including an 11-year-old boy.

A Lothian and Borders police spokesperson said: “We are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time, and who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

“We would also be keen to hear from anyone who may have seen either vehicle just before the incident.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 0131 311 3131 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Man carrying two-year-old girl dies after freak fall

By Rory Reynolds

A MAN has died after slipping and falling at Edinburgh Waverley train station yesterday morning.

The 47-year-old was carrying a young girl – thought to be two or three years old – when he fell behind a Marks and Spencer truck on the main concourse at the station.

Witnesses said that he hit his head on the floor when he fell – leaving him with serious head injuries.

Passer-bys tried to resuscitate him before the ambulance arrived and rushed him to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he later died.

The manager at Upper Crust sandwich shop said that his friend had been helping unload the delivery truck when the tragedy happened.

True extent of Blackburn’s evil revealed in letter

The sickening letter sent by Stewart Blackburn

By Cara Sulieman & Paul Thornton

A LETTER sent to the parents of tragic Jessica McCagh by fire-ball killer Stewart Blackburn after her murder shows his obsession with death, a handwriting expert has revealed.

Sick Blackburn, 18, penned a poison note from his cell at HMP Perth before being convicted of dousing pretty Jessica in petrol and setting her on fire.

Now top handwriting expert Barbara Weaver has revealed that his child-like writing shows it was just a matter of time before the youth lashed out.

Barabara, from from the Cambridge School of Graphology, said his letter proved he was prone to lash out and likely to have fantasies about the death and a desire to punish.