Cops investigate after death of murder suspect

The death of a murder suspect after he walked free on a not proven verdict is being investigated by police.

The body of John Thomas, 40, was found in Linwood last weekend just months after he was cleared over the murder of John Dalziel.

John, 47, was beaten up, slashed with a broken plate and left to burn after a fire was started at the property where the attack occurred in Whites Bridge Avenue, Paisley. However, the charge against Thomas, who had more than 100 previous convictions, was found not proven and he walked free.

Heartbroken friends and family took to social media to pay tribute.

Thomas was accused of helping Andrew McLeod murder John in May 2021. McLeod was found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow and will serve a minimum 20 years. The court heard he attacked John on his 47th birthday.

Neighbour Robert Carmichael said he saw a fire, looked in a window and could see the victim lying in a“pool of blood” while McLeod was sitting on a couch.

He added:“At that point, John Thomas came out the side of the house and I asked what happened.

“I do not know if he heard me or was not there fully himself.”

After the verdict, it emerged McLeod was already a convicted killer having been jailed for nine years for killing Scott McMinn in Paisley in 2004.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 7.20pm on Sunday, May 14 officers were called to a report of a sudden death at a property in the Kinnaird Drive area of Linwood.

“A 40-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. The death is being treated as unexplained and enquiries are ongoing. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”