Trial begins for casino murder plot

Published on Tuesday 24 November 2009 16:55

FOUR men went on trial today accused of a murder plot which led to a shooting at an Edinburgh casino.

Businessman Anthony Demarco, then 62, survived, despite being wounded in the head.

The four men who appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh deny conspiracy to murder and attempted murder, while acting with an un-named accomplice.

In the dock are Francis McGlone, 39, of Lochfield Crescent, Paisley; Jamie Robertson, 25, of Stock Street, Paisley; Imran Sakur, 35, of Elcho Drive, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, and Craig Kelbie, 35, of Saggar Street, Dundee.

The charge claims that the murder plot began in April last year.

Sakur is alleged to have approached Kelbie about recruiting others to make the hit and Kelbie is supposed to have approached Robertson and McGlone, asking them to track down Mr Demarco in return for payment.

It is alleged that the four met and exchanged phone calls, discussing possible ways to carry out the attack.

Then on 3 June last year Robertson and McGlone are alleged to have taken a

firearm to the casino, at the Maybury Roundabout where Robertson pulled the trigger.

McGlone also faces charges under the Firearms Act accusing him of possessing ammunition at a house in Paisley.

McGlone claims he was at home on the night of the shooting and Robertson and Sakur have lodged notices in court blaming others – named only as "Kev" in Robertson's case and the other man named by Sakur's lawyers as Shahid Aslam.

As the four week trial got underway, scene of crimes officer Philip Tsang told the jury he had photographed bloodstains and a metal bullet cartridge outside the casino.

The trial continues.