Pair On Trial For Murder More Than Decade Ago

Two men have gone on trial accused of murdering a man who was found dumped in a Renfrewshire farm more than a decade ago.

34-year-old Martin Toner was discovered stabbed on his head, neck and body at North Glen Farm near Langbank in July 2004. Douglas Fleming, 50, from Inverness-shire and John McDonald, 57, from Bellahouston deny murdering Mr Toner on June 29, 2004. Mr Fleming's body was found under a hedgerow in a field. The pair are alleged to have killed Mr Toner at the garden and grounds of the Coach House at Gleddoch Estate, Langbank, and Gleddoch Estate on June 29, 2004 after inducing him to travel there from the Key to Life Gym in Pollokshields, Glasgow. The jury was told that a post-mortem examination carried out on Mr Toner, of 9A Ayton Road, Pollokshields, Glasgow, by pathologists John Clark and Julie McAdam revealed that the cause of death was an incised wound to his neck and stab wounds to his chest. Judge Lord Armstrong told the jury of seven men and eight women: "Somewhat unusually these events took place some time ago in 2004. "The trial is expected to last around six weeks." At the High Court in Glasgow Fleming's QC Derek Ogg lodged a special defence of incrimination naming six men. Fleming and McDonald also deny attempting to defeat the ends of justice between June 29 and October 14, 2004 after Mr Toner's wife Michelle reported him missing. It is alleged that they gave false information to Mrs Toner and the police about the whereabouts of Mr Toner on June 29, 2004. They are also said to have falsely told Mrs Toner that her husband had lost the key for his at the Key to Life Gym that day. The prosecution also claim that pair disposed of a bloodstained shirt allegedly worn by Fleming, along with Mr Toner's mobile phone and his Bergaus bag. It is also alleged that they concealed Mr Toner's body at an unknown location in the garden and grounds of the Coach House and Gledoch Estate, Langbank, before moving it and dumping it in a field. Both men deny the charges against them.