Shadow of violence and drugs shrouds murder flats

Friends of the dead man, named locally as Billy McPhee, said he had been stabbed after an alcohol-fuelled argument in a tenth-floor flat at Castleview House in Moredun. A 41-year-old man was also stabbed during the incident at around 8.45pm on Tuesday.

Uniformed patrols have been deployed in the area to provide reassurance to residents.

Castleview House, in Craigour Place, was the scene of a previous murder in 2001 when 15-year-old Pamela Reid and 17-year-old Shevonne Clarke stabbed to death John Brankin, 39, and attempted to murder his friend, Keith Connor, 36.

The 15-storey block was also home to notorious rapist Sean McKay, who subjected a teenage boy to repeated sex attacks at knifepoint while holding him hostage in his flat.

The 41-year-old stabbed during the incident, identified by neighbours only as "Colin", was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.

Residents described the drug abuse, heavy drinking and violence which has blighted the tower block, and left many living in fear.

One resident told the News: "It (Castleview House] has had a lot of problems over the years. It's a real drug den. There was the murder with the two lassies who stabbed a man and now this. There was a woman a few years ago who climbed on to scaffolding on the tenth floor and jumped to her death after dropping off her kids at school."

Another resident said: "It's rife with drugs and a lot of the worst people are dumped there. It's a terrible place to live."

Following the latest incident, a 27-year-old woman, who asked not to be named, said she had been drinking with the murder victim and his injured friend shortly before.

She said: "The police told me Billy was dead. I couldn't believe it. He was such a great guy, a really good mate."

Both men are believed to be originally from Fife and neither were understood to have been married or have children. They were believed to have lived at the flat for around ten years, but were said to be travellers who often disappeared for extended periods.

Yesterday, police had cordoned off the area around the flats and were only allowing residents to sign in and out. A forensics team carried out investigations while officers did door-to-door inquiries. A police spokesman said they were treating it as murder.

Detective Inspector Gary Cunningham, leading the inquiry, said: "We are following a positive line of inquiry, however, we are not yet in a position to identify the deceased.

"At this time I am appealing to any residents of Castleview House who have information that can assist our inquiries to get in touch with police."

Meanwhile, a 24-year-old man was arrested and charged with making threats at police officers following the murder on Tuesday evening. He was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

In a statement, local councillors Norma Hart and Bill Cook said: "These issues are being looked at by the community safety people and the concierge service at the flats, who are doing their best to tackle it."

Fireraising and robbery

RESIDENTS in Castleview House have often been left terrified by the string of violence and fire attacks over the years.

In October 2008, Chinese takeaway delivery man Hao Guo was robbed at knife-point when he arrived. He was grabbed by the throat, threatened with a knife and robbed of the carry-out and 200 in cash.

The following month, 14 people had to be rescued after a blaze broke out in the first-floor stair area.

In May the following year, police revealed that the tower block's residents were living in fear of a suspected serial fireraiser.