The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Man accused of double murder
Robert stratton, 42, also charged with attempted murder and assault
A Dundee man has appeared in court accused of murdering two cousins and attempting to kill another woman.
The allegations surround a family vigil on Sunday morning for an autistic teenager who is thought to have died after falling from cliffs at Arbroath the previous day.
Robert Stratton appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday afternoon accused of murdering David Sorrie, 32, and Julie McCash, 43.
He also faces further charges of attempting to murder Wendy McKinney and assaulting his partner Lee Kinney.
Mr Sorrie and Ms McCash were found dead outside an address at Drumlanrig Drive in Dundee at around 6.30am.
Ms McCash was the cousin of missing 18-year-old Ralph Smith’s mother.
The search for the teenager resumed yesterday but he is presumed dead.
Stratton was remanded in custody after making a brief appearance at Dundee Sheriff Court. He faces a total of four charges. Prosecutors allege that on various occasions on Sunday at an address in Drumlanrig Drive, the same street in which he lives, he assaulted his partner Lee Kinney, repeatedly seized her by the body and pushed and pulled her, pushed her against a wall, seized her neck, threw her to the ground, picked her up and carried her away, all to her injury.
Stratton is then alleged to have murdered Julie McCash by striking her on the body with a knife.
The charges state the 42-year-old attempted to murder Wendy McKinney by running towards her while brandishing two knives and attempting to strike her on the body with them.
Finally, Stratton is alleged to have murdered David Sorrie by running towards him while brandishing the knives and attempting to strike him with them on the body before he pursued him and struck him on the body, killing him.
Solicitor advocate Jim Laverty, for Stratton, made no motion for bail during a brief hearing.
Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC continued the case for further examination and remanded Stratton in custody meantime.
He is expected to appear in court again next week.
Flowers were laid in Drumlanrig Drive yesterday for Ms McCash and Mr Sorrie.
Close family friend Zoe McDonald, 21, whose mother has been friends with Julie for years, placed a floral tribute at the scene.
She said the “whole community is in shock. I burst into tears when I heard”.
“It’s just such a shame for the family to have to go through this and it’s not fair on the kids because they are all so young. They have been left without a mum and a granny.
“They shouldn’t have to see what’s happened.
“Davey was such a good lad and it’s such a shame for his family.”
Zoe added she wasn’t sure what had happened to 18-year-old Ralph.
“We believe that he is trapped at the moment after some kind of accident,” she said.
“I’m hoping and praying that we can bring him home but we just want to help them get through this time.”
Ms McCash’s colleagues at hairdressing salon Head First at Room 39 posted a heartfelt tribute to her online.
It said: “Julie was loved by all who knew her, she was a wonderful mother, partner, sister, family member and friend and child to Helen and the late Roddie.
“Julie opened her heart to everyone and treated everyone with respect.
“Her laugh, her grin, her ability to light up the room with her presence, she was a true diamond.”
Emergency services descended on the residential area on Sunday morning and police maintained a presence on the street yesterday.
Detective Chief Inspector Keith Hardie, of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said: “There will be a strong police presence in the area while our investigation continues and I would like to thank the local community in advance for their patience.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to stress that this has been a contained and isolated incident. There has been no threat to the wider public at any stage.
“I would also urge anyone with information to please contact police, likewise anyone who saw or heard anything in the area that could be of assistance, please contact police as soon as possible on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 if you would prefer to remain anonymous.”