Target cheated death as 12-bore thug opened fire

BY WILMA RILEY attack in broad daylight on May 20 last year in Kingsway Court, Scotstounhill, Glasgow.

Christopher was sitting in his black Audi talking to a friend, Christopher Bonner, who was in another car.

A red Audi A3 stopped beside them with five people inside, all with T-shirts partly covering their faces.

The driver spoke to Bonner then asked Beaton: “Are you Chrissie Beaton?” The victim replied: “Aye, how?”

The driver then moved his head. Nelson, behind him, pointed the 12-bore through the driver’s window, holding it in one hand, and fired.

Beaton ducked as the shot hit the left shoulder area of his seat. Pellets struck the head rest and back passenger window. The car shot forward, hitting a parked car and a tree.

The A3 sped off and was later burned out in the car park at the Queen’s View, a beauty spot north of Glasgow.

Nelson told police someone in a black Audi had smashed his car window with a wheel brace earlier that day, and his head was cut by flying glass.

His counsel, Donald Findlay QC, told the High Court in Glasgow: “The conduct involved is, of course, not acceptable.

“There are ways of solving a dispute and this isn’t one of them. This was to be something of a frightener and things went badly wrong.”

Nelson admitted attempted murder and shotgun possession and showed no emotion as he was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years.

He has previous convictions for assault and possession of a machete. Lady Stacey ordered him monitored for three years after release.