Twin brothers accused of murdering a charity cyclist are set to go on trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Alexander and Robert McKellar allegedly killed Tony Parsons and then disposed of his body in a country estate almost six years ago.

Prosecutors allege that a car driven by Alexander McKellar collided with Mr Parsons, 63, leaving him seriously injured as he was cycling on the A82 in the Bridge of Orchy area on September 29, 2017.

Alexander and Robert McKellar, who was a passenger in the vehicle, are accused of assaulting Mr Parsons and failing to seek medical attention for him following the collision with “wicked and reckless disregard” for the consequences of their actions.

It is alleged they abandoned him at the side of the road during the hours of darkness while they went to Auch Estate, then returned in another vehicle and transported him and his bicycle to the estate.

The murder charge claims Mr Parsons, of Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, was then hidden under tarpaulin there in a wooded area and that he died.

Alexander and Robert, both aged 30, are also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice between September 29, 2017 and January 3, 2021, by digging a grave on the estate, depositing his body there, covering it with animal remains and bleach and burying him.

Mr Parsons, a former naval petty officer, was reported missing in 2017, aged 63, while on a charity cycle from his home in Tillicoultry to Fort William in the Highlands.

His remains were discovered in January 2021 in a remote area of ground close to a farm near the A82 at Bridge of Orchy.

Prosecutors allege that the brothers pretended that damage caused to the vehicle that struck Mr Parsons had been caused by a collision with a deer.

Alexander McKellar is also charged with causing the death of Mr Parsons by dangerous driving by driving at excessive speed during the hours of darkness when his ability to drive was impaired by alcohol, or an alternative charge of causing death by driving without due care or attention while unfit through drink or drugs.

During a virtual hearing last November, his lawyer, Brian McConnachie KC, said that his client offered to plead guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and to a much reduced version of the attempting to defeat the ends of justice charge, but not guilty to the murder charge, however, the Crown did not accept the plea.

Robert McKellar’s lawyer, John Scullion KC, entered not guilty pleas to the charges on his behalf during the hearing.

https://news.stv.tv/west-central/twin-brothers-to-stand-trial-accused-of-murdering-charity-cyclist-tony-parsons

On 24/07/2023 01:18 pm, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> Twin brothers accused of murdering a charity cyclist are set to go on trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
>
> Alexander and Robert McKellar allegedly killed Tony Parsons and then disposed of his body in a country estate almost six years ago.
>
> Prosecutors allege that a car driven by Alexander McKellar collided with Mr Parsons, 63, leaving him seriously injured as he was cycling on the A82 in the Bridge of Orchy area on September 29, 2017.
>
> Alexander and Robert McKellar, who was a passenger in the vehicle, are accused of assaulting Mr Parsons and failing to seek medical attention for him following the collision with “wicked and reckless disregard” for the consequences of their actions.
>
> It is alleged they abandoned him at the side of the road during the hours of darkness while they went to Auch Estate, then returned in another vehicle and transported him and his bicycle to the estate.
>
> The murder charge claims Mr Parsons, of Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, was then hidden under tarpaulin there in a wooded area and that he died.
>
> Alexander and Robert, both aged 30, are also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice between September 29, 2017 and January 3, 2021, by digging a grave on the estate, depositing his body there, covering it with animal remains and bleach and burying him.
>
> Mr Parsons, a former naval petty officer, was reported missing in 2017, aged 63, while on a charity cycle from his home in Tillicoultry to Fort William in the Highlands.
>
> His remains were discovered in January 2021 in a remote area of ground close to a farm near the A82 at Bridge of Orchy.
>
> Prosecutors allege that the brothers pretended that damage caused to the vehicle that struck Mr Parsons had been caused by a collision with a deer.
>
> Alexander McKellar is also charged with causing the death of Mr Parsons by dangerous driving by driving at excessive speed during the hours of darkness when his ability to drive was impaired by alcohol, or an alternative charge of causing death by driving without due care or attention while unfit through drink or drugs.
>
> During a virtual hearing last November, his lawyer, Brian McConnachie KC, said that his client offered to plead guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and to a much reduced version of the attempting to defeat the ends of justice charge, but not guilty to the murder charge, however, the Crown did not accept the plea.
>
> Robert McKellar’s lawyer, John Scullion KC, entered not guilty pleas to the charges on his behalf during the hearing.
>
> https://news.stv.tv/west-central/twin-brothers-to-stand-trial-accused-of-murdering-charity-cyclist-tony-parsons

It sounds like the makings of a BBC TV drama series.

Uncannily so, in fact.

QUOTE: Prosecutors allege that the brothers pretended that damage caused to the vehicle that struck Mr Parsons had been caused by a collision with a deer. ENDS

Was this "dead animal" ever found?

On 24/07/2023 01:33 pm, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> QUOTE: Prosecutors allege that the brothers pretended that damage caused to the vehicle that struck Mr Parsons [*six* *years* *ago* - ed.] had been caused by a collision with a deer. ENDS
>
> Was this "dead animal" ever found?

Are dead deer *usually* kept refrigerated or deep-frozen for six years
or more before being butchered, cremated or interred?

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> QUOTE: Prosecutors allege that the brothers pretended that damage caused
> to the vehicle that struck Mr Parsons had been caused by a collision with a deer. ENDS

> Was this "dead animal" ever found?

Other animals probably ate it. It’s what they do…🙄

--
Spike

On 24/07/2023 01:50 pm, Spike wrote:

> swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> QUOTE: Prosecutors allege that the brothers pretended that damage caused
>> to the vehicle that struck Mr Parsons had been caused by a collision with a deer. ENDS
>
>> Was this "dead animal" ever found?
>
> Other animals probably ate it. It’s what they do…🙄

May Sun: "In that case, they should all be arrested on suspicion of
being accessories to murder".

[He'll pretend he hasn't read this exchange but will try to devise some
means of making a reply, however inadequate.]

JNugent <jnugent@mail.com> wrote:
> On 24/07/2023 01:50 pm, Spike wrote:
>
>> swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> QUOTE: Prosecutors allege that the brothers pretended that damage caused
>>> to the vehicle that struck Mr Parsons had been caused by a collision with a deer. ENDS
>>
>>> Was this "dead animal" ever found?
>>
>> Other animals probably ate it. It’s what they do…🙄
>
> May Sun: "In that case, they should all be arrested on suspicion of
> being accessories to murder".
>
> [He'll pretend he hasn't read this exchange but will try to devise some
> means of making a reply, however inadequate.]

I can’t wait…

--
Spike

QUOTE: During a virtual hearing last November, his lawyer, Brian McConnachie KC, said that his client offered to plead guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and to a much reduced version of the attempting to defeat the ends of justice charge, but not guilty to the murder charge, however, the Crown did not accept the plea. ENDS

"Sorry chum, that won't wash - make sure your affairs are in order as you are going down".