Man accused of Welsh murder claims to have had ‘bad luck’ throughout inquiry
A man accused of murdering a Trainspotting T2 actor has denied ever seeing a gun alleged to have been used in the killing.
Bradley Welsh, 48, was fatally shot at his flat in the west end of Edinburgh on April 17 2019.
Sean Orman, 30, had pleaded not guilty to all 15 charges against him, including murder, attempted murder, firearms and drugs offences, and is on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
The Crown removed 13 of the charges from the indictment yesterday, including assault, drug and driving offences.
Judge Lord Beckett told him he had been acquitted of these allegations.
Ormanremainschargedwith murdering Mr Welsh and the assault and attempted murder of David Mcmillan in March 2019.
The accused described his involvement in the inquiry as "bad luck from start to finish".
Thecourtheardhehadlodged an alibi through his lawyers in June 2020 which said he was not at the scene of the shooting in Chester Street as he was on the A71 riding a motorbike.
Hethenchangedthisonapril 14, 2021 to him being on a bicycle between Longstone, Edinburgh,andkirknewtoninwest Lothian.
Giving evidence yesterday, Orman said: "I didn't want to tell you before my trial.
"I wanted to keep it as close to my chest as possible.
"My hand was forced to give part of my alibi so I threw them on a different path."
The court previously heard from Dean White, who said he told Police Scotland that Orman was going to be paid to
attackmrwelshandhadashotgun around a month before the incident.
The trial heard statements given by Mr White matched evidence alleged to have been used in the killing, including the weapon, vehicle and equipment.
Richard Goddard QC, advowas
cate depute, said: "He can't predict the future."
Orman claimed Mr White had been lying and replied: "He might have a crystal ball."
The trial heard Orman became aware of a shotgun beinglinkedtohimandthekilling in September 2020.
He said: "I have never seen it
in my life."
Defence counsel Ian Duguid QC said: "On April 17 2019 had you been on Chester Street in a Ford Kuga and shot and murdered Bradley Welsh? Orman replied: "No." Thecourtwastoldormanhad been in a vehicle matching that description earlier that day and then told to collect a car from the Kirknewton area of West Lothian.
It was heard he cycled from his mother's home to the location during Channel 4 News but there was nothing for him to collect.
He said: "I remember I wasn't happythatnight,ihadbeenleft in Kirknewton. I wouldn't get paid and I had been sent on a dummy run."
Orman also told the court he had not heard of Mr Mcmillan until the trial got under way.
The 30-year-old denied being at a property in Pitcairn Grove, Edinburgh, on March 13, 2019 when the attempted murder wassaidtohavetakenplace.he said he could not recall where he was. Orman said: "I can't remember, I have no reason to remember."
The trial continues.