Weekly sports round-up – Police investigation – Planning matters – Edinburgh International Film Festival – Film for half term
We hope you like our new sports feature which is published each Monday. Today there is a wealth of sport from Tae Kwon Do to rugby.
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Lothian and Borders Police say that 28-year-old Anthony McGinty, who was reported missing on Friday, was traced in Edinburgh over the weekend. They have thanked media for publicising their appeal for information regarding his whereabouts.
Today detectives investigating the murder of Steven Brown are today carrying out door-to-door enquiries in response to new information that has emerged regarding a key aspect of the reinvestigation into his death.
The 35-year-old was found lying dead in a field near Elphinstone, Tranent, on the morning of Sunday February 21, 1999. He had been badly beaten and stabbed several times.
Last month, Lothian and Borders Police confirmed his murder was being reinvestigated, and over the past three weeks detectives have been conducting a range of enquiries in the Tranent area.
In particular, officers have been investigating the circumstances of a reported disturbance in Kerr Road that happened the night before Steven’s body was discovered, involving a large number of men and women, in which Steven was also believed to be involved.
These enquiries now suggest that a large group of people were seen entering Kings Road in two vehicles prior to the disturbance, which happened around midnight. Police believe that this group were directly involved in the incident, and as a consequence, that more people were involved in Steven’s death than originally thought.
As a result of this previously unknown information, officers will be carrying out door-to-door enquiries in the Kings Road area today, in a bid to gather fresh information and trace potential witnesses.
In addition to this line of enquiry, detectives working on the case have also located forensic evidence dating back to 1999, which has been sent away for re-examination.
Detective Inspector Gary Boyd, from Lothian and Borders Police, said:- “The information regarding the presence of two vehicles in Kings Road prior to the disturbance in Kerr Road has only just emerged, and we are following up on this particular line of enquiry through house-to-house visits taking place today.
“A number of other lines of enquiry are also being actively pursued, including a re-examination of forensic evidence which we hope will yield fresh information that can assist our enquiries.”
DI Boyd continued: “We have had a fantastic response from the local community as we seek to solve Steven’s murder, and we would urge anyone with any information that can assist us to come forward.
“Information can be passed on anonymously through a confidential telephone hotline direct to the police incident room, or by email. I would also remind people that the charity Crimestoppers is offering a £5000 reward for anyone who can offer information leading to a prosecution, again on an anonymous basis.
“We remain as determined as ever to achieve justice for Steven’s family, and we would ask anyone who has information regarding his murder to ask themselves whether they can continue to deny his family the justice they deserve after 14 years.”
Detectives investigating this murder would like to reassure people in Tranent that they have nothing to fear following recent complaints of witness intimidation.
The complaints, which relate to the current reinvestigation of the 35-year-old’s murder, are now under investigation, and the officer leading the enquiry has issued a warning to anyone seeking to pressure witnesses.
Detective Inspector Gary Boyd said: “Any attempt to coerce or intimidate witnesses will be swiftly dealt with, and we want to reassure people that police will take immediate action to address their concerns if they feel they have been threatened or pressured in any way. We continue to urge anyone who has information regarding Steven’s murder to contact police.”
Anyone with any information can contact the confidential hotline on 0131 311 5972, or email OperationThermal@lbp.pnn.police.uk
Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111.
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Greener Leith have a report on the planning proposal for flats in Bowling Green Street which is opposed by many locals. You can read this here.
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The Edinburgh International Film Festival have announced the reintroduction of the audience awards which has been announced today after a two year absence. A popular award with the public, filmmakers and distributors alike, the EIFF Audience Award also offers a unique sponsorship opportunity at this year’s Festival. Last awarded in 2010 to Aaron Schneider’s GET LOW, other past winners include THE SECRET OF KELLS (2009); MAN ON WIRE (2008); TSOTSI (2005) and AMELIE (2001).
Embracing the Festival’s ongoing commitment to engage audiences in discussion of the art and the future of cinema, the Audience Award programme will solicit and publish audience commentary via online forums. Selected audience participants will also be invited to the Festival’s Awards Ceremony. Voted for by cinema-goers attending public screenings, films will be eligible from across the Festival at the discretion of the Artistic Director.
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Half term this week so here is our suggestion for the day:- a film at The Filmhouse this afternoon at 14:30 – Beauty and the Beast.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
