‘No justice for Mark’ says victim’s best friend after murder trial

The heartbroken best friend of a carer who was beaten to death has told of how he is struggling to move on after losing a “brother”.

Mark Squires was leaving a fundraiser for a close friend who had recently died when Nico Allan, 24, set about him with a vodka bottle leaving him with fatal head injuries outside a pub in Longstone, Edinburgh, in what police called a “senseless and unprovoked attack”.

Allan was sentenced to life imprisonment but could be out of jail in 12 years – a verdict labelled as “disgusting” by the family who have been ripped apart following the 44-yearold’s brutal death.

Charlie Murray, who was with Mark when the pair were attacked in October last year, said that he is a broken man and still blames himself for his best friend’s death.

Mr Murray said: “It was devastating. I was grabbed by the legs and the hair while he was getting beaten. I couldn’t gather myself when I made the 999 call and had to hand the phone to someone else. I had to give him CPR doing that for around 12 minutes until the ambulance came. I spent four months in bed after it happened. We did absolutely everything together since we were nine years old.

“I can’t forgive myself because he was with me and I normally looked after him. I suggested to get a takeaway which is why we were walking in that direction. I keep thinking what if we went another way? It’s so hard to not blame yourself.

“This is not justice for Mark, no way. Mark had done nothing that night

“Life has just been terrible since. Mark used to phone me everyday. I’m heartbroken and I can’t seem to move forward. I feel like I have lost a brother.”

Mr Squires, who was his mother’s carer, suffered “innumerable” face fractures and a cardiac arrest after he was beaten, kicked, stamped and smashed over the head with a bottle. He was rushed to hospital where he died several hours later after his condition deteriorated.

Allan had denied murdering Mr Squires in October 2017 but was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh last month. His co-accused, Aiden Welsh, 25, was acquitted of murder after a jury returned a not proven verdict.

A third man, Liam Tierney, 21, had also faced a murder charge but was acquitted during the trial.

The court heard that Mr Squires had “done nothing to warrant” the attack.

The devastated family have told of how they are struggling to come to terms with the loss of popular Mark.

Brother Colin Squires said: “This is no justice for my brother. His death has affected all of us and we’re all devastated. I’ve not really grieved for him still as I’m trying to be strong for my family.

“He was such a popular guy with hundreds at the funeral.”