Jury retires in landlord murder trial

A jury is expected to start considering its verdict today on whether a man who killed a publican after driving over him committed murder.

Lee McNamara, 24, admitted killing Steven Curran, 47, on October 20 last year at The Dolphin Inn, Whitecraig, in East Lothian, but after the Crown rejected his plea to culpable homicide is standing trial denying that he murdered him.

McNamara, of Carberry Court, Whitecraig, had been drinking at the bar before attacking Mr Curran in the car park, taking keys to the Toyota Celica and getting in the vehicle which ran over him.

Advocate depute Andrew Miller told the High Court in Edinburgh that that for "no good reason" McNamara had lain in wait for Mr Curran, ambushed him and carried out an assault which left the victim behind the car and then reversed the vehicle.

The prosecutor said it was "inconceivable" that he could be unaware that he had run over something substantial.

Defence counsel Shelagh McCall said McNamara was making his getaway in the car and not committing an assault.

"I suggest the death of Mr Curran came as a total shock and he had no idea he had run him over," she said.