Bloodstained death scene was worst in detective's police career

Published on Tuesday 23 June 2009 22:52

A SENIOR detective told a court how the murder scene of a father-of-four was the "worst" he'd ever seen.

Raymond Black, 48, was found lying in a pool of blood in his home with a kitchen knife "embedded in his face" on 13 January.

The High Court in Aberdeen yesterday heard how 19-year-old Peter Allen then confessed to police about the killing.

Detective Sergeant Graeme Lannigan, crime scene manager, told how the scene in Carluke first appeared.

He said: "When I entered the living room, Raymond Black was lying on his back. The place was in a state of disarray. There was blood-staining pretty much everything I could see.

"There was a lamp lying over the leg of Raymond Black with its base bashed and bent. The base of the lamp is heavily bloodstained."

The jury was then shown a picture of Mr Black's body with a kitchen knife embedded in his face.

Defending, Donald Findlay QC asked DS Lannigan if the scene at was unusually violent.

He replied: "Yes, it's the worst I've ever seen."

Mr Findlay added: "This has clearly been an incident between the individuals of significant, protracted violence. This was no mere fight?"

Mr Lannigan replied: "Yes. It's clearly not a fight. The injuries were significant. As I said, it's the worst I've ever seen."

Police surgeon Conrad Harvey said Allen had told him he habitually smoked two "ten bags" of heroin a day as well as taking a cocktail of drink and drugs.

Allen is alleged to have repeatedly punched and kicked Mr Black on the head and body before striking him with a knife and a lamp standard.

He is also charged with trying to defeat the ends of justice by concealing a bloodstained jacket.

The trial continues.