Murder accused not a man of violence, says lawyer

A lawyer told a murder trial yesterday that her client was not a man of violence.

John Henderson, 47, Gary Martin, 37, Joseph Martin, 40, Thomas Martin, 45, David Graham, 46, James Connor, 52, and Dean Leech, 25, are all accused of murdering Gary Clampett.

It is alleged they hit the 39-year-old with knives, a machete, a sword, a stick, bats and golf clubs at Fernie Place in Fraserburgh at about 4am on June 18.

The men all deny the charge and are on trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Henderson has admitted stabbing Mr Clampett with a knife he brought with him to Fernie Place.

Yesterday defence counsel Frances Connor told the jury that her client Thomas Martin was not a man of violence.

Miss Connor told the jury that Martin, who lives in Peterhead, did not head out that night with a plan to kill or harm Mr Clampett.

She added: “Mr Martin has no conviction for any sort of violence. He works as the manager of a factory. He has a son at university. Is that the type of man who would agree to a plan for violence?”

The defence counsel said that Martin accepted he was there and was waving a chain. But she added: “There is no evidence from any witnesses that he assaulted Gary Clampett or indeed anyone with it.”

Earlier Shelagh McCall had urged jurors to acquit her client Joseph Martin.

The trial continues.

Police at Fernie Place in Fraserburgh