Man, 31, denies murder of city grandfather

Arran Fender to stand trial in January after being accused of Dundee stabbing

A man has denied murdering Dundee grandad Gary McMillan by stabbing him and hitting him on the head and body.

Appearing at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday, Arran Fender, 31, pleaded not guilty to killing Mr McMillan at the junction of Lawton Road and Lawton Terrace, Dundee, on May 16.

The 44-year-old’s body was found in Lawton Terrace at around 2.25am.

It is alleged that Fender inflicted blunt force trauma to Mr McMillan’s head and body and repeatedly struck him on the body with a knife or similar instrument.

Fender is also accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by giving his mother, Annie Hamilton, the clothes and footwear he had been wearing when he allegedly stabbed Mr McMillan and asking her to dispose of them in a rubbish chute at Lansdowne Court, Dundee.

He is further charged with having a knife in his possession on May 15 2017 at Lansdowne Court and Lawton Terrace and threatening Mr McMillan with a knife on an occasion between February 1 and March 31 2017.

Fender denies all the charges against him.

Judge Lord Boyd set trial for January 11 at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Shortly after his death, Mr McMillan’s neighbour on Lawton Terrace, Yvonne Muktar, said that she had been left “heartbroken” by the death of her “best pal”.

Ms Muktar said: “My heart is broken. He was my pal.

“He used to have parties and ask me to look after his dog, Floyd.”

Cousin Jamie Docherty said in an online post: “I saved your life once and I just wish I was there to save your life again.

“You weren’t just a cousin to me and Stevie but we called you uncle Gary from the start and always will.

“You were always there for us when we needed you the most and I can never thank you enough for that.”

Drew Sinclair, 28, a student from Lochee, said: “I was close to Gary – he was just one of those guys that stuck with you. He was a brilliant guy, a really nice guy.”

Ashley McGurty added: “Such a decent loyal guy. You will be sadly missed.”

Sean Donaldson said: “You were a cracker, a great guy, more than willing to help a mate out, your banter was second to none, so was your laugh.”

After his death, flowers were left on an area of grassland close to where Mr McMillan’s body had been found.

Local people told of the massive police presence following the discovery of his body with search dogs deployed.

Gary McMillan was found dead in Dundee’s Lawton Terrace in May.