Man admits killing landlord amid calls for murder trial

A MAN has admitted killing a pub landlord by driving over him, but prosecutors are still demanding that Lee McNamara, 24, should stand trial for murder.

Publican Steven Curran, 47, died in the car park of the Dolphin Inn in Whitecraig, East Lothian, last October 20. McNamara appeared from custody at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday.

Defence advocate Shelagh McCall said McNamara would plead guilty to a reduced charge of culpable homicide and continued to maintain that he had not robbed Mr Curran of his car keys and car.

He was also prepared to admit driving the car dangerously down the A1 from Musselburgh to Broxburn.

Advocate depute Andrew Miller, prosecuting, told judge Lord Stewart that the Crown would not accept the pleas and insisted that the charge should remain one of murder.

Lord Stewart ordered another hearing next month.