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East Preston Street (and other serious incidents involving bicycle riders)

(345 posts)
  • Started 3 years ago by I were right about that saddle
  • Latest reply from Stickman

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  1. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    @edinburgh87 I think everyone involved in audax or potential nighttime riding who knows of the case is bound to think about it occasionally, if only to attempt to discern the potential depths of what we're dealing with out there.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  2. edinburgh87
    Member

    @mb - perhaps, but I must confess that the sequence of events alleged to have happened here (without elaborating or reposting what’s online elsewhere in the interests of any trial) wasn’t on my audaxing / night riding risk register…

    Posted 2 years ago #
  3. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    ok - speaking personally, I find it concerning that a cyclist's body can 'go missing' for 3+ years, and only come to light due to a specific set of circumstances. In this case police had pretty good info as to where the disappearance happened due to trunk road cameras, in many other places they would have a lot less to go on. Think that's all I can say for now

    Posted 2 years ago #
  4. LivM
    Member

    I don't know what's going on but something bad has happened at the junction of Ravelston Dykes and Murrayfield Road. Police, Fire and Ambulance all in attendance. 38 bus diverted. (And everything else).

    Posted 2 years ago #
  5. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    "Twin brothers have been charged with the murder of charity cyclist Tony Parsons.

    Alexander and Robert McKellar, aged 29, were also charged with attempting to defeat the ends of justice when they appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court."

    "The brothers were further charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Parsons. Alexander McKellar was also individually charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving."

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-59503667

    Posted 2 years ago #
  6. ejstubbs
    Member

    One Tom McKellar, farm manager on the Auch estate - I would guess an older relative of the two above, possibly the father - was done for poisoning wildlife with carbofuran, and illegal possession of two handguns in 2009.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  7. edinburgh87
    Member

    in many other places they would have a lot less to go on

    That's very true. Certainly a night return from Eskdalemuir fits that description.

    Also surprised the charge is murder / conspiracy to as opposed to something driving related. More to come out I think

    Posted 2 years ago #
  8. crowriver
    Member

    It is a very concerning case. I will be following the court proceedings closely as the charges do seem to suggest this is not simply a hit and run gone awry.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  9. fimm
    Member

    I don't know what's going on but something bad has happened at the junction of Ravelston Dykes and Murrayfield Road.

    https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2021/december/appeal-after-car-overturns-near-ravelston-dykes-edinburgh/
    Police in Edinburgh are investigating following a road traffic crash which happened at Ravelston Dykes at the junction with Murrayfield Road.
    At around 1.25pm on Thursday, 2 December, 2021, a beige VW Golf being driven east on Ravelston Dykes Road, at the junction with Murrayfield Road, collided with a white Citroen C3 before overturning and coming to rest in a nearby garden.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  10. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-62913661

    Two brothers will stand trial next year accused of murdering charity cyclist Tony Parsons and burying his body.

    Prosecutors allege twins Alexander and Robert McKellar, aged 30, killed the 63-year-old in September 2017.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  11. gembo
    Member

    One of them is willing to plea bargain to say that he hit him whilst driving. And then they want to plea bargain down to defeating justice. The prosecution is not going for it and there is even the suggestion the poor guy was not dead at the scene and further atrocities were inflicted on him.

    Hence the not guilty pleas.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  12. edinburgh87
    Member

    There must be something along those lines to it - it's taking an awful long time to go through the courts.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  13. fimm
    Member

    Was anyone ever charged in connection with the death of James Harrison, does anyone know?

    Posted 1 year ago #
  14. LaidBack
    Member

    Hit and run by driver with SUV and trailer.

    https://twitter.com/Lejogmack/status/1575505030114791424?t=clXqOQ8Ifb_SCwnsx2gxKQ&s=19

    Posted 1 year ago #
  15. Stickman
    Member

    Good news update from the chap hit in the incident that started this thread:

    Dear Donators,
    Hello from Gabor! I know that a lot of time has passed since your kind act, but I only recently started feeling ready for writing this message.
    I am phenomenally grateful to you for being kind and generous with your donation! I am feeling 90% recovered - this is the feeling that triggered me to write the message. Although, the last 2 years were the most difficult in my entire life, I encountered several life lessons. The unexpected twist is that even a great fear was conquered - yes, I got back to cycling. I was falling all the time when I was a kid, including the teenage years, and I am still walking and running. This accident won't stop me from enjoying cycling
    Once again, I tremendously appreciate your donation! Have a lot of joyful moments in your life!

    https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-ride-towards-recovery

    Posted 1 year ago #
  16. Frenchy
    Member

    A bittersweet read that - obviously delighted to hear that he is making progress and enjoying cycling again, but "90% recovered" just...hurts?

    Does anyone know if the driver was ever charged?

    Posted 1 year ago #
  17. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    https://road.cc/content/news/trial-begin-brothers-accused-murdering-cyclist-302741

    "The murder trial of Alexander and Robert McKellar, accused of hitting charity cyclist Tony Parsons while driving under the influence before murdering him and disposing of his body on a country estate, is set to get underway at Glasgow's High Court today."

    "Prosecutors allege a car being driven by Alexander McKellar, in which Robert was a passenger, hit Mr Parsons. Both men deny murdering the cyclist, Alexander's KC last year offered to plead guilty to causing death by dangerous driving or, alternatively, careless driving while unfit through drink or drugs, but the plea was rejected by prosecutor James Irvine.

    It is alleged that after the collision on the A82, the brothers failed to seek medical attention, showing "wicked and reckless disregard" for the consequences.

    Prosecutors allege the brothers initially abandoned Mr Parsons at the side of a dark, remote road before driving to the Aulch Estate and returning to put the cyclist's body, along with his bike and other belongings, in another vehicle.

    The body was then allegedly hidden under a tarpaulin in a wooded section, and that Mr Parsons died, with a grave dug on estate land and the body covered with animal remains and bleach before being buried.

    Prosecutors say the brothers, both 30 years old, pretended the damage to the vehicle they had been travelling in was caused by a collision with a deer.

    Alexander will also face the additional charges of causing death 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.

    The brothers are also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice between 29 September 2017 and 3 January 2021."

    Posted 9 months ago #
  18. edinburgh87
    Member

    This story genuinely never fails to send chills through me. I hope they go away for a long time.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  19. Stickman
    Member

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-66256705

    A man has pleaded guilty to killing charity cyclist Tony Parsons and hiding his body in a grave.
    Alexander Mckellar, 32, admitted driving at excess speed and causing Mr Parsons' death.
    He and his twin brother Robert Mckellar admitted defeating the ends of justice by hiding Mr Parsons' body in a grave in the Auch Estate near Bridge of Orchy.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  20. Frenchy
    Member

    That sounds like a guilty plea to one of the lesser charges (e.g., death by dangerous driving), rather than the murder charge.

    Does that mean the murder charge has been dropped?

    EDIT: Daily Record has a wee bit more info, and confirms that the murder charge was dropped: "While originally charged with murder, advocate depute Alex Prentice KC announced the charges against the two brothers, who are from Bishopbriggs, had been amended."

    https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/man-admits-killing-scots-charity-30558641

    Posted 9 months ago #
  21. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    STV has it down as the driver pleading guilty to culpable homicide and attempting to defeat the ends of justice, and the passenger just the latter. No mention of any driving charges.

    Disgrace if true.

    Sentencing Friday. Guess we'll be reminded yet again how little a cyclist's life is worth in Bonnie Scotland.

    https://news.stv.tv/west-central/tony-parsons-twin-guilty-of-killing-charity-cyclist-and-covering-it-up-with-brother

    ETA: Record has "Alexander McKellar admitted driving on the A82 at “excess speed and when unfit through alcohol”."

    Posted 9 months ago #
  22. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    Oban Times has further predictable details:

    "Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC revealed Alexander was already had a string of road traffic convictions.

    He was guilty of dangerous driving in 2009 in Oban. Three years later, he was convicted of drink driving.

    The same year, Alexander was guilty of careless driving. Both the latter cases were at Stirling."

    https://www.obantimes.co.uk/2023/07/26/driver-admits-killing-charity-cyclist-then-burying-body/

    Posted 9 months ago #
  23. gembo
    Member

    Prosecution pushed for murder as that could be pleaded down to culpable homicide which would carry heavier jail term than any driving offences? Perverting justice should add to this term?

    Posted 9 months ago #
  24. chdot
    Admin

    “Prosecution pushed for murder as that could be pleaded down to culpable homicide“

    BUT

    Apparently

    They knew he was alive

    And left him

    Posted 9 months ago #
  25. edinburgh87
    Member

    Prosecution pushed for murder as that could be pleaded down to culpable homicide which would carry heavier jail term than any driving offences? Perverting justice should add to this term?

    Hope you're right. The two of them are lower than a snake's belly whatever our pathetic sentencing regime throws up. I think what gets me is the sheer entitlment and arrogance they show (you can find one of them on facebook if you enjoy being wound up). Sadly going by a lot of rural driving these days, I suspect there are many more McKellar twins just waiting to be discovered, a lot of DUI home from the pub in certain more remote parts..

    Posted 9 months ago #
  26. gembo
    Member

    Well only they will say if that is true. I have heard it said.

    For sure They left him to swap vehicles and leave their phones and went back for him. And for sure made no attempt to call ambulance.

    For sure the crown declined to reduce charges before trial and went for murder.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  27. edinburgh87
    Member

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-66317438

    Reddit rumours were true!

    Posted 9 months ago #
  28. boothym
    Member

    More shocking details. Seems like the cyclist had stopped at the same hotel as the brothers hunting party and they caught him up. Guessing that goes on a lot, everyone turning a blind eye to drunk driving in more rural areas.

    "In August 2018, police received a letter saying to "pay attention" to the twins as they had been in the hotel the same night as Mr Parsons.
    Police approached the twins in January 2019 but were asked to leave the estate."

    Some great police work. We've had people on here/twitter fobbed off by police who visit an address but don't get an answer to who the driver was for a close pass video.

    I thought it would be different for a more important case but obviously not...

    Posted 9 months ago #
  29. edinburgh87
    Member

    It just gets worse every time there's new information.

    And yes, I had an ex-partner who lived up near Strathdon and remember a lot of drink driving back from the pub went on. We walked, but there was a definite nonchalence toward it far moreso than down here.

    Posted 9 months ago #
  30. edinburgh87
    Member


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