Man To Stand Trial Charged With Scots Comedian Murder

A man is to stand trial charged with murdering a Scots comedian more than 17 years ago. Graham Fraser is charged with being involved in the killing of Hugh Ferris at the entertainer's flat in Pollokshields, Glasgow in December 1997. Fraser is said to have joined Donald Murray - who is now dead - in breaking into the 58 year-old's ground floor property in the city's Leven Street. The indictment claims a chisel was held against Mr Ferris's neck before he was repeatedly punched, his hands and feet bound with electrical cable and his pockets rifled through. It is further alleged a telephone cable was pulled from a socket and that no attempt was made to get medical help. The murder charge also claims Mr Ferris was then abandoned while he was tied up and unable to get assistance. Fraser made his first public appearance in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow. The case had called several times previously in the absence of Fraser. Judge Lord Bannatyne set a trial due to start in June. A further hearing will take place around two weeks before the trial. Fraser was arrested after a report was sent to the procurator fiscal in 2012 following a cold case review into Mr Ferris's death. Mr Ferris had once been a popular entertainer in Glasgow's pubs and clubs where he was known for telling jokes and his singing. Scots actor and close friend Peter Mullan once put up a £5,000 reward for information into his death. Mullan had given Mr Ferris a role in his film Orphans, but he died before it was released.