GUILTY UK - Steven Donaldson, 27, murdered, Loch of Kinnordy, Scotland, 6/7 June 2018

[Legally Bland]

The trio accused of murdering and setting fire to Angus man Steven Donaldson have appeared back in the dock at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Tasmin Glass, 19, Callum Davidson, 23, and Steven Dickie, 24, will now face trial next month over the discovery of the 27-year-old Arbroath oil industry worker’s body at a local beauty spot last last June.

Trio accused of Steven Donaldson murder appear back in court - The Courier

 

[LittleMystery]

Adding in some articles for background information ahead of the trial starting tomorrow.

Appeal for information before arrests -
Steven Donaldson murder: Police ask for public's help to hunt down whoever killed 'a son and a brother' - The Courier

Appeal for information about Steven’s movements before his death -
Steven Donaldson murder: Police investigate ‘damaged’ car found at the scene - Evening Telegraph

Three people charged in relation to Steven’s murder -
Three charged over Steven Donaldson death - The Courier

First court appearance for the three accused - Steven Donaldson death: Three appear in court accused of murder - The Courier

Accused 19 year old Tasmin Glass released on bail in October 2018 -
19-year-old Tasmin Glass freed on bail in Steven Donaldson Kirriemuir murder case - The Courier

 

[LittleMystery]

Double post.

 

[mrazda71]

Angus teenagers set for Edinburgh Fringe bow in Bring It On: The Musical - The Courier

 

[mrazda71]

Tailgating driver was 'trying to alert motorist who had forgotten to turn on his lights' - The Courier

 

[LittleMystery]

I’m guessing Tasmin’s character within the community supported her second bail appeal. Part of theatre group, back up singer for a band etc.

The other two have multiple previous convictions. Domestic violence, driving offences etc.

Man denies Kirriemuir dangerous banned driving allegations - The Courier

Kirriemuir man on double New Year assault charge - The Courier

Can’t bring the others over from Press Reader but a google of their names with Kirriemuir brings them up.

 

[LittleMystery]

Tasmin as Aladdin in local theatre.

Edit - I’ve decided to delete the video as contains other children and not sure that’s allowed.

So videos of her can be easily found by searching her name on YouTube.

 

[mrazda71]

Do we have any idea on motive?

 

[Vaccine]

I've not heard of this case before but it raises a number of questions. Is there any indication of a motive? Reports suggest the victim was lured to the site where he was killed - any info by whom and for what purpose? At that time of night you might guess a hook-up or drug deal but the articles suggest he was not a drinker or drug taker.
Also, it seems at first glance judging by TG's interests and the other's profiles that she was keeping rather unsavoury or unlikely company?

 

[LittleMystery]

There is no confirmed motive in MSM yet. There is plenty floating about on social media if you search TGs name.

I’m not too far from the area and when it first happened, the location and the timing the body was found made me think it was a hook-up or dogging scenario gone wrong.

I don’t think that now though.

But yes, it does seem TG did get in with some savoury characters. Although from what I’ve seen from social media in years prior to the murder she wasn’t as wholesome as the extracurricular activities would suggest. Evidence of drug taking etc.

 

[Vaccine]

Well I've done a bit of googling and not found out much except for the fact that she was in the local papers quite a lot with her singing and music and that from the comments on social media one person regards her as the instigator of this crime (for money?). I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say that within WS rules. Apologies if not.
For him to have been lured there to meet them he would have had to have known one of them before or to have been in touch with them on social media, dating or some other site. I imagine the LE have a good picture of how this connection was made and all will be revealed in court shortly.
There is also a comment somewhere which suggests the brutality of this crime which is horrible. Poor Steven - he looks such a handsome young man from the pictures.

 

[LittleMystery]

Well I've done a bit of googling and not found out much except for the fact that she was in the local papers quite a lot with her singing and music and that from the comments on social media one person regards her as the instigator of this crime (for money?). I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say that within WS rules. Apologies if not.
For him to have been lured there to meet them he would have had to have known one of them before or to have been in touch with them on social media, dating or some other site. I imagine the LE have a good picture of how this connection was made and all will be revealed in court shortly.
There is also a comment somewhere which suggests the brutality of this crime which is horrible. Poor Steven - he looks such a handsome young man from the pictures.

Yep. She seemed to be quite well known locally. Plenty appearances in local news due to her hobbies, work place etc. I think she was possibly looking for a career in the limelight.

I think this is partly what makes it so shocking especially within the local community. If the details about what they done to him are true - what drives a young girl from what seems to be a good background to be part of a murder so grim.

Kirriemuir is a small area too - population is around 6000. So everyone pretty much knows or is connected to everyone. So everyone locally will know of the accused. Steven was from a little further away, but TG has connections to the town he was from.

I’m assuming jury would have been sworn in today? Have emailed a couple of local reporters to see if there will be any Twitter coverage.

 

[LittleMystery]

A jury in the trial of a woman and two men accused of murdering Angus oil worker Steven Donaldson has been shown graphic images of the 27-year-old lying dead beside his burned out BMW in the car park of an Angus nature reserve.

Opening evidence in the case against Steven Dickie, Callum Davidson and Tasmin Glass also revealed Mr Donaldson died from sharp force injuries to the neck, according to a post mortem report.

Jury shown images of burned-out car and dead body as nature reserve murder trial begins - The Courier

 

[Legally Bland]

The opening stage of proceedings heard the 999 phone call made just before 5am on June 7 by RSPB warden Victoria Turnbull, who arrived there with colleagues and discovered Mr Donaldson’s fire-ravaged BMW 1 series and his body lying beside it.

Ms Turnbull told advocate depute Ashley Edwards she initially thought the burned-out car may have been an incident of fly-tipping, which had happened previously at the reserve.

“We realised there was someone on the ground. I realised the person was dead so I stepped away and started to call the police,” the witness told the trial.

She said the car was “very well burnt, there wasn’t much left”.

The jury was shown a 3D visualisation of the car park as well as 360 degree photos and aerial footage of the area containing the BMW and the body lying near one of its front wheels.

The trial, before Lord Pentland and a jury of eight women and seven men, is expected to last 18 days.

Murder trial jury shown images of burned-out car and dead body of Arbroath man Steven - Evening Telegraph

 

[Legally Bland]

Ms Robertson [victim's sister], a social worker, told prosecution lawyer Ashley Edwards QC that she contacted police and told officers that Steven was going to meet a girlfriend called Tasmin Glass, 20,. Ms Robertson said the police told her to obtain Tasmin’s details so they could speak to her.

The court heard that the pair spoke over Facebook Messenger. Ms Robertson then read out the message which Tasmin sent to her. When Ms Edwards asked her to read the message Ms Glass sent, Ms Robertson said: “Ok. Love you you all. Please stay strong. All of us have to.”

[...]

Friends came to the house and showed the family a news story about how a dead body had been discovered at a nature reserve in Kirriemuir and that police were investigating. She said she became concerned and spoke to police. She told officers that Steven was visiting Tasmin Glass.

The police asked her to obtain Ms Glass’s contact details so they could speak to her. The court heard that Ms Robertson used Facebook Messenger to contact Ms Glass. Ms Robertson said Ms Glass told her that Steven didn’t turn up for a meeting she arranged to have with him.

She added: “They had been arguing recently. He didn’t turn up. She assumed that he had changed his mind or had gone off in a huff.” The court heard that Ms Glass told Ms Robertson that she had tried to contact Steven earlier in the day and that he hadn’t got back in touch.

The court heard that Ms Glass thought it was “strange” for Steven not to return her messages.

Murder accused used Facebook messenger to urge family of missing man ‘stay strong’

 

[LittleMystery]

Ms Robertson [victim's sister], a social worker, told prosecution lawyer Ashley Edwards QC that she contacted police and told officers that Steven was going to meet a girlfriend called Tasmin Glass, 20,. Ms Robertson said the police told her to obtain Tasmin’s details so they could speak to her.

The court heard that the pair spoke over Facebook Messenger. Ms Robertson then read out the message which Tasmin sent to her. When Ms Edwards asked her to read the message Ms Glass sent, Ms Robertson said: “Ok. Love you you all. Please stay strong. All of us have to.”

[...]

Friends came to the house and showed the family a news story about how a dead body had been discovered at a nature reserve in Kirriemuir and that police were investigating. She said she became concerned and spoke to police. She told officers that Steven was visiting Tasmin Glass.

The police asked her to obtain Ms Glass’s contact details so they could speak to her. The court heard that Ms Robertson used Facebook Messenger to contact Ms Glass. Ms Robertson said Ms Glass told her that Steven didn’t turn up for a meeting she arranged to have with him.

She added: “They had been arguing recently. He didn’t turn up. She assumed that he had changed his mind or had gone off in a huff.” The court heard that Ms Glass told Ms Robertson that she had tried to contact Steven earlier in the day and that he hadn’t got back in touch.

The court heard that Ms Glass thought it was “strange” for Steven not to return her messages.

Murder accused used Facebook messenger to urge family of missing man ‘stay strong’

Awful. His poor family.

I wonder if he knew he would be meeting the other two or just assumed he was meeting Tamsin and has been ambushed for whatever reason.

 

[Legally Bland]

Awful. His poor family.

I wonder if he knew he would be meeting the other two or just assumed he was meeting Tamsin and has been ambushed for whatever reason.

His sister mentioned friends (plural), but I'm struggling to make much sense of this so far. I hope it becomes clearer:
______

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the previous evening Steven was “happy” at the prospect of going out to meet friends in Kirriemuir, Angus.

Murder accused used Facebook messenger to urge family of missing man ‘stay strong’

 

[LittleMystery]

His sister mentioned friends (plural), but I'm struggling to make much sense of this so far. I hope it becomes clearer:
______

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the previous evening Steven was “happy” at the prospect of going out to meet friends in Kirriemuir, Angus.

Murder accused used Facebook messenger to urge family of missing man ‘stay strong’

Yeah that’s what made me wonder.

The media said sister says he was going out to meet friends in Kirriemuir but then goes on to say he was going to meet girlfriend Tasmin.

Ms Robertson told prosecution lawyer Ashley Edwards QC that she contacted police and told them Mr Donaldson had been going to meet a girlfriend called Tasmin Glass.

Murder accused told family to 'stay strong'

It’s not very clear so far!

 

[Legally Bland]

An older article which reads like SD may have been planning to meet up with other friends. Also states he was last seen at 10pm.

'Why would anyone hurt him?' asks friend of murdered oil worker Steven Donaldson

 

[Legally Bland]

Just realised one of the defendants has the same initials, I was referring to SD the victim.