Kriss case accused deny charges

Kriss Donald was allegedly abducted near his home

Three men accused of murdering Glasgow schoolboy Kriss Donald by stabbing him and setting him on fire have appeared at the High Court in Glasgow.

Imran Shahid, 29, Mohammed Mushtaq, 27, and Zeeshan Shahid, 28, pleaded not guilty to the charge at a preliminary hearing before Lord MacPhail.

They deny abducting Kriss, 15, in Kenmure Street, Pollokshields, on 15 March 2004 by forcing him into a car.

The judge agreed to continue the case for another hearing in March.

It is alleged that Kriss was imprisoned in a car at knife point and tied up before being driven to Strathclyde Park near Motherwell, Dundee and Glasgow's east end.

The charge alleges Kriss was taken from the car, restrained by the arms and murdered by being repeatedly stabbed and set on fire with an accelerant which was said to have been poured over him.

Denies charges

Imran Shahid and Mr Mushtaq deny a string of other charges.

One claims they fled Scotland to Pakistan after the alleged murder.

Both deny shouting, swearing and uttering racial abuse at three people in Glasgow Sheriff Court on 6 October.

Imran Shahid further denies assaulting two detectives in the medical suite at London Road police office on 5 October last year and trying to pervert the course of justice by jumping on a blood sample.

Lord MacPhail was told by defence counsel for the three men that a substantial amount of preparation was required before the case could go to trial.