Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Murder trial set to start at High Court
THE trial of a man accused of murder in Dundee is set to get under way.
Arran Fender is alleged to have murdered Gary McMillan on May 16, at the junction of Lawton Road and Lawton Terrace.
The 31-year-old denies all the charges against him and claims he was acting in self-defence.
Fender, a prisoner at HMP Perth, denies inflicting blunt force trauma to Mr McMillan’s head and body by means unknown.
It is alleged he then repeatedly struck the 44-year-old on the body with a knife or similar implement and did murder him.
The trial against Fender was scheduled to begin today at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Fender previously appeared at a preliminary hearing at the High Court in Glasgow in front of Lord Boyd QC, where he tendered not guilty pleas to the charges.
Lawyers acting for Fender additionally lodged a special defence of self-defence. Fender also denies that on an occasion between February 1 and March 31 2017 — both dates inclusive — at an address in Lawton Terrace, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by threatening Mr McMillan, residing at the address and now deceased, with a knife.
A further two charges, both of which relate to him allegedly being in possession of a knife, are also denied.
Prosecutors allege that Fender was found with a blade without reasonable excuse or lawful authority, in a public place on May 15 at three separate locations in Dundee.
The final charge against Fender states that on May 16, at an address in Dundee’s Glenmarkie Terrace — having allegedly murdered Mr McMillan and being conscious of his guilt — he gave his mother, Annie Hamilton, the clothing and footwear worn when he committed the alleged murder.
Fender then allegedly asked her to dispose of the items, which she did, in a bin chute in Landsdowne Court.
In doing so, it is alleged Fender did conceal or destroy evidence linking him to the alleged murder and did this to attempt to pervert the course of justice.
Tributes poured in following Mr McMillan’s death, with friends and family describing him as a “decent loyal guy” and “more than willing to help a mate out”.