SLAIN IN THE STREET
First knife murder in town since 1977
We’ve been shaken to the core.
That was the reaction to the cold- blooded killing of a father- of- four, slaughtered as he washed his car.
John Kiltie, a 44- year- old bus driver, was murdered in his own street in Girvan on Saturday morning - the first fatal stabbing in the town since the killing of a cafe owner 39 years ago.
Councillor Alec Clark told the Post: “John was a very quiet, family- orientated man. It is a tragic event that has left a family without a dad and a partner and is an act of criminality that has shaken our community, an event like this is unknown in this town,
“For this to happen in broad daylight to a man who spent his days working hard is awful and the Girvan community will continue to support his family during this difficult time.”
His murder leaves partner Sharon Tweedie, 37, without
her sweetheart and their three sons and daughter without a dad.
Family member Leanne Mitchell, 21 said: “John was a really wonderful person with such a friendly, positive attitude towards life – none of us can get our heads around it.
“I found out at work and when the words ‘ John Kiltie’ came out I thought ‘ John? No, it couldn’t be him’.
“He wasn’t the sort of person to get caught up in anything.”
John was found bleeding in a neighbour’s garden just after 11am.
He was pronounced dead at the scene as police officers rushed to perform CPR – but tragically he could not be saved despite an air ambulance landing yards away in Victory Park.
Two sections of the street close to where the popular Stagecoach driver died were cordoned off shortly after the incident, with a police forensics team erecting a white tent in a back garden, just a stone’s throw from Girvan Primary.
The popular family man has been remembered by a grief- stricken community with fondness.
It is understood John’s sister lives in the same block and his parents live on the same street.
Neighbour Donna Kidd said: “I cannot even begin to understand the pain that family are going through. They recently had their fourth child and he will be greatly missed.”
Tracey Forde, 38, said: “I saw a helicopter fly past. Next thing I could hear hysterical screaming and police cars came driving down the street.”
Her partner, Richard Allen, 33, added: “It is such a quiet neighbourhood and we have many friends here. The last thing you expect to witness on a Saturday morning is something as sad as this.”
As a familiar face, driving the service bus between Girvan and Ayr, he was much loved by his passengers and colleagues.
Bus driver Kevin Brown posted on Facebook: “Everyone of us will remember you with our own special memory, and maybe learn something new about you along the way.”
He said that Mr Kiltie’s family had been robbed of a “husband, father, uncle, cousin, son and all- round good guy”.
Another colleague Stephen Connell said: “In Ayr depot this morning you could hear a pin drop.
“The atmosphere is numb after the tragic event from Saturday.
“He always wore his hat at work and would be lost without it, so as a mark of respect I will be wearing my hat for the remainder of the week, remembering a good friend, a work colleague and a true gentleman.”
Passenger Anne Hendry said: “He was such a kind person and it is extremely sad to hear he has been killed – a lot of people are shocked and questioning why this has happened.”
A crowdfunding page set up by colleague Craig Gemmell has smashed its initial target of £ 2000 with over £ 4100 raised by Tuesday afternoon,
Craig said: “John was a person who would not do anyone a bad turn.
“We are all heartbroken, not a day passed that he didn’t leave a lasting impact on his passengers, colleague and friends.
“Thank you to everyone who has given money to us so far, it has been overwhelming and we hope this will help the family during this difficult time.”
Just for Dogs in Maybole will hold a dog wash fundraiser on Saturday, June 4, from 9am- 4pm, with all proceeds going to the GoFundMe page.
To find out more visit crowdfunding. justgiving. com/ JohnKiltie
Girvan was rocked on December 20, 1977, when cafe owner Enrico Iannarelli, 62, was knifed to death. He was robbed of nearly £ 3000 takings by Margaret Foote.
And Barrhill bricklayer Allan Rennie was jailed for life for battering his lover’s baby daughter Karisha White, 17 months, to death at a Girvan flat in December 1996 while high on a cocktail of drink and drugs.