Council is blasted over Green murder
Two sentenced to life over Prestwick pensioner killing
C o u n c i l b o s s e s have been branded “disappointing, wholly inadequate and cruel” as two men were given life sentences for the murder of Prestwick pensioner Arthur Green.
Harry Hood, 46, and Ross Russell, 35, were sentenced to life with a minimum of 14 years each for the savage attack at Green’s Prestwick home in 2014.
But judge Bill Dunlop QC slammed South Ayrshire Council for failing to move Green, who had been described as “a neighbour from hell”.
He said: “The reaction of the council which I heard was disturbing.
“That they should make themselves homeless and move to an area away from the place they loved living in and to leave their home was frankly disappointing, wholly inadequate and on one view, cruel.
“That failure to act on the part of the council was explained to the court as due to there being no corroboration, as a lawyer I can say that’s nonsense.
“I am afraid I am driven to conclude that the council went for the easy option, persuading the good guys to move would be simple and more straightforward than evicting those causing the trouble.”
During the trial, Harry Hood’s 76- year- old father Harry Hood snr told how Green had been a “nightmare” to live beside.
The pensioner told how his “lovely neighbourhood” changed “big time” when Green moved in around four years ago.
He said: “I blame him ( Green) because he was inviting the people there. He was just a neighbour from hell.”
Days before the killing, Mr Hood had a half slab thrown through the window by James Philbin, the boyfriend of Green’s daughter.
But South Ayrshire Council’s housing chief David Burns defended the council’s failure to remove Arthur Green from the street, claiming “no one could have predicted” the fatal attack.
He said: “This is a sad and shocking case where two individuals made a willing, conscious and fatal decision to take the law into their hands, resulting in the death of Mr Green.
“The judge’s reported criticisms of the council are very disappointing as we take all complaints about antisocial behaviour seriously and, in this case, we responded to the complaints received and worked closely with those involved.
“In this particular case, we responded to and provided advice and support to the complainants – who have lived in the same property for almost ten years – and advised of the different options available to them. At the same time, we were continuing to deal with the individual concerned and actually took action against him on what turned out to be the day he died.
“We will, of course, consider whether there is any learning we can take from this case, but no one could have predicted the actions that were taken by the two individuals who have been sentenced to life imprisonment.”
During the trial, the court was told how Hood and Russell boasted they had “got away with murder” after police initially believed Arthur Green had fallen.
They turned up at Green’s home late on November 19, 2014 after they had been playing in a pool tournament.
Green was battered to death in a brutal attack, with the force so severe that his heart and liver were burst.
The body of Arthur Green was found by his grandson the next day, and police initially believe the death was suspicious - but that suddenly changed when it was reckoned Green had suffered an accident.
But after Ross Russell told a workmate that they had “kicked f*** out of him”, the colleague was so sickened he made an anonymous call to police.
Amid a new probe, Hood of Ayr and Russell, of Maidens, were arrested.
A sick text saying “a bit of his head stuck on my boot” was later found to have been deleted on Russell’s mobile.
Both gave evidence during the trial and effectively blamed each other.
Hood, a pool hall owner who previously ran bars in Ayrshire, denied even being inside Green’s home.
Dale Russell, of Girvan,