Racists in Uniform???
Racist killer captured after bid to flee court
By DAVID ROSS, Highland Correspondent
The HIGHLAND
12:59am Saturday 21st June 2008
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2356131.0.Racist_killer_captured_after_bid_to_flee_court.php
An Iraq war hero dramatically tried to flee court after he was convicted of the "savage, merciless, and pointless" murder of a Bangladeshi waiter 14 years ago.
Black Watch soldier Michael Ross was 15 when he entered a restaurant on Orkney and shot Shamsuddin Mahmood in front of customers because of the colour of his skin.
After being found guilty yesterday at the High Court in Glasgow, Ross, now 29, leapt from the dock. There were gasps from the public gallery as he veered towards the jury before leaving by a side door, pursued by police officers and court officials.
He was wrestled to the ground in the corridor by a court official and handcuffed as he sat on the floor, before being taken from the court to prison.
His desperate attempt to escape came after the jury of 10 women and five men took less than a day's deliberation to convict him of murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice, on a majority verdict.
Judge Lord Hardie told Ross, a first offender, that he would not be sentenced until July 11 because a social inquiry report was required.
Police later confirmed Ross had become the main suspect soon after the murder of the Bangladeshi waiter at the Mumutaz Indian restaurant in Kirkwall in June 1994, only two months after Mr Mahmood arrived on Orkney.
They were sure it had been Ross who had walked into the restaurant that evening wearing a balaclava, but did not have enough evidence to charge him.
The breakthrough came in 2006 when a new witness, William Grant, came forward, saying he had seen Ross in public toilets in Kirkwall with a balaclava and a weapon on the night of the killing, and felt obliged to tell police.
Detective Inspector Iain Smith, the senior investigating officer, said: "That was the spur for us to reopen the inquiry."
Asked why it took Mr Grant so long to come forward, he replied: "I have no idea why, but we are grateful that he did." It has been suggested Mr Grant feared for his safety, particularly given that Ross's father, Edmund, was a serving police officer at the time of the murder.
Mr Smith expressed delight yesterday that, after 14 years, Ross had finally been brought to justice for this "shocking and sickening crime".
He said a racist motive became increasingly apparent from witness evidence and items recovered from Ross's home, including a notebook with racist writing on it.
"At the time, there was great difficulty in establishing a motive. It was a senseless crime. It was only through the inquiry, through the years, that we had been able to come to the conclusion in all probability this was a racially motivated crime."
Ross had been questioned first as a witness and then as a suspect, and had changed his testimony which had been significant, "but he didn't come close to confessing".
Asked if Ross joined the Army to continue racist killings, Mr Smith said: "You have to second-guess him. I can't say what his reason was for joining the Army.
"He was extremely keen in firearms and shooting, as was his father and brother. It became apparent from his cadet days and has followed him through his career."
Asked about his father lying to protect his son while a serving officer, Mr Smith said: "It is a decision he has made as a father protecting his son. Given his position as a police officer, that was an extremely frustrating scenario."
Mr Smith said Ross's actions in trying to escape "spoke volumes".
Mr Mahmood's brother, Abul Shafuddin, sent a statement from Bangladesh. It read: "Justice has been done. The family feel happy with the verdict and happy with the performance of the police. We are grateful to all who worked to bring the accused to trial."
Andrew Laing, area procurator-fiscal for the Highland and Islands, said: "This was a callous murder of an innocent young man who was well known and liked within the town. This cowardly act shocked not only the local community but people throughout Scotland."
Advocate-depute Brian McConnachie had described the murder as "savage, merciless, and pointless", but Donald Findlay QC, defending, brought forward several black soldiers Ross had served alongside in Iraq, who spoke of his brave actions on the frontline.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the Army was aware of the conviction, but said it would be inappropriate to comment until the judge had passed sentence.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Court Service said it would be carrying out a full review of the circumstances surrounding Ross's attempted escape.
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