Three committed over park death

Mr Kerr had worked for the council for three years

A 15-year-old boy has been fully committed for trial on a charge alleging he murdered 51-year-old council worker James Kerr.

The schoolboy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was remanded in custody pending trial after a brief appearance at Perth Sheriff Court.

Co-accused David Meehan, 20, and Martin Soutar, 19, were also remanded in custody and fully committed for trial.

They are alleged to have murdered Mr Kerr in a Perth public park last month.

The three accused are alleged to have knocked Perth and Kinross council worker Mr Kerr, of George Street, Perth, to the ground in the South Inch park and rendered him unconscious on 21 or 22 April.

The charge further alleges the trio, all of Perth, repeatedly punched, kicked and stamped on his face, head and body and cut him on the face with a piece of glass.

Mr Kerr's body was discovered in the park by a dog-walker and he was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, where he subsequently died.

Perth Provost Bob Scott, and council chief executive Bernadette Malone both paid tribute to Mr Kerr, who had worked as a council officer for three years.