3 teens face life sentences for Prestonfield pensioner murder

Three teenagers who beat a pensioner to death in Edinburgh have today (Friday, 29 November, 2019) been convicted of murder.

Officers were called to a flat on Clearburn Road in the Prestonfield area around 10.40pm on Thursday, 21 February, 2019, following a report of a disturbance.

On arrival, 67-year-old Alasdair McPherson Forsyth was found with serious injuries to his head and body. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Nineteen-year-old Keirin Elliott, also known as McMillan, and two other males, both now aged 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were quickly arrested and later charged in connection with this.

They were held in police custody to appear at court the following Monday and, following a trial, have all now been found guilty of murder at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The trio beat Mr Forsyth, a neighbour of Keirin Elliott, to death with a hammer, a wrench and a screwdriver.

Detective Inspector Bob Campbell, the senior investigating officer on this case, said: "Alasdair was a well-respected member of the local community, having lived in his flat for a number of years. This was a horrendous attack on a vulnerable man in his own home.

"There could have been no justification for what they did, but our investigation did not find any clear motive for the attack on Alasdair. The three have shown no remorse whatsoever for his brutal and senseless death.

"I'd like to praise the responding officers for their quick arrests and the investigative team for all their work on this case and efforts to get justice for Alasdair."

The three are due to be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, 22 January, 2020.