Murder compared to crime novel

The Crown claimed Ian Sutherland "snapped"

The relationship between a former teacher and a younger man led to a gruesome murder along the lines of an Ian Rankin novel, a jury has heard.

The sawn-off body parts of Alan Wilson, 51, were found dumped in bin bags in a garden on Edinburgh's Merchiston Avenue in February.

Ian Sutherland, 33, denies strangling Mr Wilson and has accused his former girlfriend of carrying out the killing.

Closing speeches took place on Monday at the High Court in Edinburgh.

On this final tragic occasion, Ian Sutherland snapped and murdered Alan Wilson Advocate depute Keith Stewart

Advocate depute Keith Stewart told the court that sexual feelings harboured by Mr Wilson for Mr Sutherland led to the murder

He said: "The Crown case is that Ian Sutherland did not kill Alan Wilson because he was gay. He killed him because he (Mr Sutherland) was not gay.

"Because he, Ian Sutherland, was heterosexual and Alan Wilson made one too many advances...on this final tragic occasion, Ian Sutherland snapped and murdered Alan Wilson."

Mr Stewart told the jury of eight men and seven women that the murder may have taken place in familiar surroundings, "in a pleasant enough street, in a pleasant enough city".

The prosecuter likened the case to the works of two well-known crime writers.

He added: "You have heard a story that might chime in your mind if you have read the works of Ian Rankin or Quentin Jardine."

Special defence

But in this case Mr Stewart said there was no mystery, because the evidence showed Mr Sutherland murdered Mr Wilson.

Mr Sutherland has launched a special defence, blaming his former girlfriend Tracy Scott for the murder - a charge which she denies.

But Mr Stewart said Ms Scott was being "flung to the wolves" as a scapegoat for Mr Sutherland's own actions.

Mr Sutherland has accused Tracy Scott

He said: "If he was making up a story to protect Tracy Scott, there could be any number of reasons that flared up and caused Alan Wilson's death - of money, of rent, a tragic accident.

"But instead he said the reason Mr Wilson was killed was because of an unwelcome sexual advance."

Mr Sutherland's defence counsel, Donald Findlay QC, told the court that the accused would not be giving evidence.

Mr Findlay claimed that Ms Scott had even confessed - in an unguarded moment - to strangling Mr Wilson, a man she hated and described as "a freak".

He told the jury that shortly before police discovered the black bin bags in the garden of Mr Sutherland's flat, Ms Scott was alleged to have told a barmaid: "I will get 20 years for it. I strangled him."

Something happened that resulted in the death of Alan Wilson, and precisely what the details are we will never know Donald Findlay QC

The lawyer said Mr Sutherland had ended up in the dock because he had lied to try to protect his lover.

Mr Findlay said the scene at the flat on 1 February had been pleasant, if a little drunken.

Mr Findlay continued: "That night, fuelled by rage and fired by alcohol, with Ian Sutherland in a drunk or drugged sleep, she went through and something happened that resulted in the death of Alan Wilson, and precisely what the details are we will never know."

He said that inconsistencies in her story and differences between what Ms Scott told police and what she said in court were not mistakes but "downright lies."

Mr Findlay said Ms Scott resented the part the former schoolteacher played in her boyfriend's life, giving him money and paying the rent for his flat.

The jury is expected to consider its verdict on Tuesday.