Two men go on trial accused of murder of Donegal labourer in Glasgow street

TWO men have gone on trial charged with the racially aggravated murder of a 57-year-old man in the street.

Asif Rehman, 20, and Adel Ishaq, 19, are accused of attacking William McKeeney and causing him to fall to the ground before repeatedly punching, kicking, stamping and jumping on his head and body.

Mr McKeeney was so severely injured after the alleged incident yards from his home in Melville Street, Pollockshields, Glasgow, on January 15 that he later died at the city’s Victoria Infirmary.

Rehman and Ishaq, prisoners at Polmont Young Offenders Institution, deny the racially aggravated murder of Mr McKeeney and

showing previous malice and ill-will towards him. Rehman is said to have been on bail at the time.

Ishaq denies attempting to defeat the ends of justice by giving clothing and footwear to Umar Bhatti, who burned and destroyed them, and attempting to induce Bashir Ahmed to give him £500 so he could flee Glasgow.

Rehman also denies attempting to defeat justice by changing out of the clothes he was was wearing at the time before returning to the scene, and possessing cannabis and diazepam.

Ishaq further denies acting in a manner likely to cause fear and alarm by using abusive and threatening language towards Ian Little in Kenmuir Street, Pollockshields, on the day before the alleged attack. He also denies possessing diazepam.

Mr McKeeney, a labourer and former lorry driver, was originally from Malin Head in County Donegal, Ireland.

The trial continues in the High Court at Kilmarnock and is expected to last two weeks.