9am Briefing: Edinburgh killer investigated over death of Shirley Bassey's daughter

A CONVICTED killer from Edinburgh is being investigated over the death of Dame Shirley Bassey's daughter, it was reported today.

Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed that they are looking into claims Michael Moffat, 47, was involved in the death of Dame Shirley's daughter, Samantha Novak, 25 years ago.

She was found face-down in the River Avon near Bristol in 1985.

But now the family of one of Moffat's victim has been in touch with police claiming he was involved in Samantha's death, it was reported today.

Gang enforcer rushed Royal carriage

GANGLAND enforcer Francis Doris, convicted last week of plotting to kill a businessman, was one of a group of IRA sympathisers who rushed at the royal carriage in the Royal Mile over a decade ago.

Doris, now awaiting sentence after being found guilty of conspiring to murder Kevin Martin in 2008, was part of a pack who broke from the crowd lining the route of the Queen's carriage at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, it was reported today.

Tributes tosoldier killed in Afghanistan

FAMILY and comrades of a soldier killed in an explosion in Afghanistan today paid tribute to "one of the Army's rarest treasures".

Serjeant Steven Campbell, from city-based 3rd Battalion The Rifles, died on Monday while on foot patrol in Sangin, Helmand province.

The 30-year-old, of Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, in County Durham, leaves his parents, wife and son.

Call to ban smoking in cars

DOCTORS today called on the Scottish Government to ban smoking in cars in order to reduce health risks for children.

A report by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh into the effect of passive smoking on children said smoking in cars was an "important and persistent" factor in exposing children to cigarette smoke.

Passive smoking causes an estimated 22,600 new cases of asthma and wheeze in children across the UK every year, with 4,000 of them in Scotland.

Vote on change to MSPs' expenses

MSPs will today vote on changes to Holyrood's expenses scheme, including an end to employing relatives.

Senior politicians already signalled their intent to back all the recommendations from a review of the system published in December by Sir Neil McIntosh.

The changes include a ban on MSPs from employing relatives and new rules for members who get public cash to buy a home in the Capital.