Murder accused ‘told friend he needed £2,000’

A MURDER accused told a friend he needed £2,000 in cash days before a pensioner was discovered beaten to death, a court has heard.

Steven Sidebottom, 25, was said to have sent a text to Graeme Gray asking for a loan four days before Brian McKandie was found dead. He later sent a message to Mr Gray about doing a ‘job’, promising there would be £500 in it for him, the High Court in Aberdeen was told.

Sidebottom, of Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire, is accused of murdering and robbing handyman Brian McKandie, 67, at his home in nearby Badenscoth in March 2016. He denies the charges against him.

Prosecutors claim Sidebottom attacked Mr McKandie, repeatedly striking him on the head and body with ‘an unidentified implement or implements’.

Sidebottom has lodged a special defence of incrimination, with court documents read to the jury accusing another man, from Aberdeen, of the crime.

He also says that he has an alibi – in that he was in various other locations such as Aberdeen at the time of Mr McKandie’s death. The case continues.