Murder accused "offered pal £500 to drive him to 'do someone in'"

A murder accused offered a friend £500 to drop him off so he could "do someone in" in the weeks before the alleged killing.

Steven Sidebottom denies murdering and robbing Mr McKandie at his rural Aberdeenshire home on March 11 2016.

The 67-year-old mechanic was bludgeoned to death at his cottage in Badenscoth, near Rothienorman, where police later found almost £200,000 in cash.

The High Court in Aberdeen heard that in the weeks before the alleged murder Sidebottom had asked pal Graeme Gray to "do a job" for him.

The pair conversed in person and via text about a plan for Mr Gray to pick Sidebottom up and drive him to a location "in the Rothienorman area" so the alleged killer could "do someone in".

Mr Gray, 33, who runs a chip shop in Insch, Aberdeenshire, said Sidebottom then wanted him to drive to Huntly or Inverurie so he and the vehicle he was using "could be seen" in those areas.

He was to then drive back and pick up Sidebottom once he was finished "the job".

Mr Gray later told police that after he heard about Mr McKandie's murder he had initially wondered if Sidebottom could have been responsible because of the plan and confronted him about it.

He initially agreed - but backed out when Sidebottom said there would be £500 in it for him and then decided it was "too risky".

His police statement was read to the court during the seventh day of the trial.

It said: "Steven told me that someone in the Rothienorman area was due him money but he didn't say how much.

"He said he was going to do this person in and was going to get his money back.

"He never told me person's name and I never asked.

"He said he would give me money for me to drive him somewhere in the Rothienorman area but didn't say exactly where or give me an address.

"He wanted me to drop him off in my car then drive to Huntly.

"He wanted me to be seen in Huntly and I took that to mean he wanted my car to be seen on CCTV.

"He said when he was finished he would phone me to go and get him then we would go back to my house where his van would be."

He added in his statement: "The more I thought about it I thought I shouldn't get involved because it was too risky."

Mr Gray then told police that after he learned of the murder his "initial thought" was if the killing had anything to do with Sidebottom.

He then asked his friend about it but Sidebottom told him he "wouldn't have done anything to Brian".

Advocate depute Iain McSporran QC asked Mr Gray: "Were you telling the truth in this statement?"

Mr Gray replied: "Yes."

Sidebottom, 25, of Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire, denies a single charge of murder.

It is alleged that on March 11 2016 at Fairview Cottages, Badenscoth, Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire, he murdered Brian McKandie and robbed him of a sum of money.

Sidebottom denies repeatedly striking Mr McKandie with an unidentified implement or implements.

He has lodged special defences of alibi and incrimination.

The trial, before judge Lord Uist and a jury of five men and ten women, continues.