Three in court over murder of dad in Gartcosh

Three men have appeared in court accused of murdering a 51-year-old dad at a house in Gartcosh.

Stephen Mack, 53, Jackson Mack, 21, and Cain Carr, 20, deny murdering Stephen Anderson at 15 Slakiewood Avenue, Gartcosh, Lanarkshire, on October 29, last year.

Prosecutors allege that they repeatedly punched Mr Anderson on the head and body, tied his wrists and ankles together, covered his mouth with tape and compressed his chest and neck, restricting his breathing.

It is also claimed that the three accused repeatedly struck him on the body and legs with a metal pole, hit him repeatedly on the legs with a machete and other sharp bladed instruments and robbed him of a set of car keys and a wallet.

Stephen Mack is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by, pretending to Mr Anderson's wife and son he had not seen him on October 29, last year.

It is also alleged that he took part in a search for Mr Anderson while his body was in Stephen Mack's house.

Stephen Mack is also charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin.

He denies all charges.

All three are also accused of damaging windows at 3 Underwood Road, Cambusbarron, Stirlingshire, on October 28, last year, by striking them with metal bars. They deny this charge.

Today at the High Court in Glasgow, prosecutor Margaret Barron said: “The trial is expected to last 12 days.”

Judge Lord Matthews set a trial for July this year.