The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Three people in court accused of murdering 27-year-old oil worker.
Two men and a woman accused over the death of Arbroath man Steven Donaldson at Angus nature reserve
Three people appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court yesterday charged with the alleged murder of Arbroath man Steven Donaldson.
Tasmin Glass, 19, Callum Davidson, 23, and Steven Dickie, 23, all Kirriemuir, made a brief appearance in private on petition before Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown.
There was a heightened police presence outside the court from 9am and security checks were made on everyone entering the building.
Davidson and Dickie arrived together in a security van shortly after 2.30pm, followed 20 minutes later by Glass in a separate van.
They were kept in a pending cell before appearing individually.
All three were arrested on Thursday and charged the following day in connection with the death of the 27-year-old oil worker, whose body was found at the Loch of Kinnordy nature reserve, outside Kirriemuir, on Thursday June 7.
The first to be called yesterday was Callum Davidson, represented by solicitor Nick Markowski.
He was charged with murder, assault and three counts of breach of the peace. Next up was Dickie, represented by solicitor Nick Whelan, who was charged with murder and three counts of breach of the peace.
Last to walk the short distance from the cell to the court was Glass who was charged with murder.
She was represented by solicitor Robin Beattie.
All three made no plea, were committed for further examination and remanded in custody.
They will appear back in court next week.
The discovery of Steven Donaldson’s body shocked the Angus community and launched a major police investigation.
Roads leading to the nature reserve were blocked by police while the investigation was carried out, and a no-fly zone was put in place above the reserve.
Two properties in Kirriemuir were also guarded by Police Scotland officers.
The public response to the ongoing investigation has been praised by senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent James Smith of Police Scotland’s major investigation team.