Victim of acid attack ‘could have been blinded’

AN INVESTIGATIVE journalist could have been blinded in an acid attack on his doorstep, a court has heard.

Sun reporter Russell Findlay was allegedly attacked by two men, one of whom claimed to be a postman, at his home in the west end of Glasgow on December 23 2015.

William Burns, 56, and Alexander Porter, 48, both of Paisley, are on trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of assaulting Mr Findlay by throwing sulphuric acid in his face. They deny the charges.

Dr Katheravelu Ramash, an eye specialist, who treated the journalist after the attack, told prosecutor Richard Goddard that he could have lost his sight.

Earlier, one of Mr Findlay’s neighbours, Gordon Thomson, 37, said he heard Mr Burns say as he was being led away after the attack: “Jamie boy sends his regards.”

Mr Thomson told the court he heard a child screaming at about 8.30am on the day of the incident.

He told prosecutor Richard Goddard he looked out of his window and saw his neighbour Mr Findlay wrestling with a man.

He said: “I ran down the stairs and by the time I arrived Russell was asking the gentleman questions.”

Mr Thomson told the jury that Mr Findlay was sitting astride the man who was on his back struggling to get free. He said a red Royal Mail jacket and a delivery bag were lying nearby.

He was asked if he heard the man he identified as Burns say anything. He replied: “As he was being led away I heard the words: ‘Jamie boy sends his regards’.”

The trial before Judge Sean Murphy QC continues.