Murder police reject gang war theory

Police have denied there was a battle between gangs

Police have launched a murder hunt following the stabbing of a 21-year-old man on the outskirts of Glasgow.

But police have denied the killing was as a result of a gang battle.

Two other youths were injured when violence broke out on the streets of Cambuslang just before midnight on Thursday.

The fatal victim, Kevin Stanley, of Greenhill Court, Rutherglen, was stabbed and died at the scene.

Isobel Painter: "They lifted the body off of the road"

A 17-year-old was taken to Glasgow's Victoria Infirmary, but was later released.

And another, a 26-year-old, was taken to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride where he is in a stable condition.

Strathclyde Police said a definite line of inquiry was being followed as a spokesman denied the death was related to a gang culture locally.

The spokesman added that no more than six youths were involved in the incident as he predicted an arrest would be made this weekend.

The spokesman said Mr Stanley left the scene of the incident in a dark coloured Ford Escort with some of the other men involved.

The car was driven into Mansion Street in Cambuslang where Mr Stanley collapsed.

'Baseball bats'

The Ford Escort has been recovered near to Mansion Street, Cambuslang.

Local residents were disturbed by the incident - Amy Robertson and her grandmother Isabel Painter were wakened by the noise.

Ms Robertson said: "I seen somebody carrying this body with someone carrying the body and somebody carrying the legs. So I told my nana and she got up.

"And then I seen some other boys running from the other houses with big wooden planks and baseball bats."

Her grandmother added: "Then they lifted the body off of the road and threw him into a car and were driving round and round."