Murder accused 'had machine gun'

Shamsuddin Mahmood was shot in Orkney 14 years ago

A man charged with murdering a waiter in Orkney 14 years ago had Nazi symbols and a de-activated machine gun in his bedroom, a court has heard.

A police officer said the items were found during a search of Michael Ross's bedroom.

Mr Ross, 29, denies shooting Shamsuddin Mahmood, 26, in the head at the Mumutaz Indian Tandoori restaurant, Kirkwall, in 1994.

The trial, before Lord Hardie at the High Court in Glasgow, continues.

Mr Ross, now living in Inverness, was 15 at the time of the waiter's death.

Giving evidence, Det Con Michael Harper, 38, said that when he searched the accused's bedroom he also found a drawing of the Grim Reaper with the slogan "Death the cure for all" under it, and the name Ross written with a swastika inside the letter O, with the last two letters in the form of an SS sign.

He also said he found a de-activated machine gun hanging on Mr Ross's bedroom wall.

Mr Ross is accused of entering the restaurant with his face masked and shooting Mr Mahmood in the head.

Special defence

He is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by changing his clothing and disposing of the weapon.

He is further charged with, while acting with others whose identities are unknown, committing a breach of the peace outside the Indian restaurant by shouting, swearing, uttering threats of violence and racist abuse.

That offence was allegedly committed sometime between 3 May and 24 May, 1994.

Mr Ross is further accused of crouching behind a wall and trees in a mask and committing a breach of the peace on May 19, 1994, in Papdale Woods, Kirkwall.

He denies all charges and has lodged a special defence of alibi claiming he was nowhere near the Indian restaurant or Kirkwall town centre, but was cycling in another part of Orkney.

The trial, before Lord Hardie, continues.