Murder trial begins for restaurateur killed in 1978

A man who is accused of murdering a restaurant owner almost 40 years ago was “arrested” as he attempted to board a Pakistan- bound flight, a court has heard.

Ria sat Khan ,63, was detained at Birmingham Airport in May 2016 by police who stopped him from boarding a plane heading to Islamabad.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that West Midlands Police Constable Robert Watton was executing a warrant on Mr Khan which had been granted by a Scottish sheriff in October 1978.

The procurator-fiscal in Aberdeen obtained the legal order just days after the death of businessman Kazi Ahmad at a flat in the city’s Rosemount Viaduct.

At the time of his death, Mr Ahmad was one of four partners in the Ra jDul al Restaurant in Dee Street, Aberdeen.

He was described in a legal statement read to a jury on the first day of a trial yesterday as a gamble r who regularly used bookmakers and a casino in Aberdeen. One witness told police investigating the restaurateur’ s death that he was a “big punter” who carried large sums of money.

Mr Khan was an employee at the restaurant and detectives investigating Mr Ahmad’s death wanted to apprehend him. He was not transferred into Police Scotland custody until May 2016.

The trial continues.