The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Case collapses over fire that destroyed market
The man accused of burning down Hilltown Indoor Market in Dundee has walked free after the case against him collapsed.
On the third day of Christopher Mckenzierobertson’s trial, a sheriff decided there was no case to answer.
Fire tore through the former market and adjacent Fit4less gym, levelling both and causing damage to the value of £2.5 million in September 2018.
Mckenzie-robertson, 23, had been charged with setting fire to a sofa at the site on Main Street, causing the blaze.
However, as the trial restarted yesterday, defence solicitor Jonathan Crowe KC contended the crown had presented no corroborating evidence his client was responsible and Sheriff Mark Thorley concurred.
Mckenzie-robertson, of Adamson Court, Dundee, was told he was free to leave the dock.
The blaze took hold on September 12 2018 and the trial heard evidence it was started deliberately.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told Mckenzierobertson was spotted on CCTV with another man, Kai Walker, on the day of the fire and the pair later exchanged text messages.
Mr Walker – who, prior to the trial, had all charges against him dropped – wrote: “Police are after you and me. Want me to burn your jumper bro?”
The accused responded: “Eh bro” and then: “We might get done for that.”
Mr Walker responded: “Don’t phone bro. Well if it comes down to the moment you are taking the blame, I’m not going to nae Polmont.”
He told the trial Mckenzie-robertson was not responsible for the fire and named another man as the culprit.
The trial heard of another string of messages sent by Mckenzie-robertson to Mr Walker including: “Kai, it is about the Market. F ***** g answer your phone, you s**z. Stop rubbering and answer. MATE ANSWER YOUR PHONE. “YOUR A WEE GIRL. “PRETTY SURE WE’VE BEEN CAUGHT… ALL OF US ARE GETTING LIFTED.”
There were also 17 missed calls from the accused to Mr Walker in the days following the fire.
Mckenzie-robertson had been accused of fireraising and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
The market closed in December 2016 but was going to reopen as a home
to charity Tayside Furniture Re-use Network.
Goods stored there were lost in the fire.
The Courier told last month how plans have been lodged with Dundee City Council for housing on the derelict site.
The plan, by Springfield, was the latest to be submitted for the area, with a former scheme that included a bowling alley, bar and restaurant being approved by the council in 2021 before its developer entered administration.