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Businessman admits killing biker | Businessman admits killing biker |
(10 minutes later) | |
A businessman has admitted killing a biker more than a decade ago despite the victim's body never being found. | A businessman has admitted killing a biker more than a decade ago despite the victim's body never being found. |
Thomas Pryde, 38, said he killed lorry driver Adam Alexander, 46, in 1999 after the business associates had a row. | Thomas Pryde, 38, said he killed lorry driver Adam Alexander, 46, in 1999 after the business associates had a row. |
At the High Court in Glasgow, Pryde admitted culpable homicide, bringing to a conclusion one of Scotland's longest-running unsolved crimes. | At the High Court in Glasgow, Pryde admitted culpable homicide, bringing to a conclusion one of Scotland's longest-running unsolved crimes. |
Mr Alexander was treated as a missing person for almost nine years. | Mr Alexander was treated as a missing person for almost nine years. |
Pryde, who ran a plumbing business based in Scone, Perthshire, is due to be sentenced next month. | Pryde, who ran a plumbing business based in Scone, Perthshire, is due to be sentenced next month. |
The court heard that he had gone to Mr Alexander's home in Errol to discuss a deal but a row had broken out between them. | The court heard that he had gone to Mr Alexander's home in Errol to discuss a deal but a row had broken out between them. |
Motorcyle leathers | Motorcyle leathers |
Pryde claimed the lorry driver had been trying to get him to sell stolen goods and had lashed out at him when he refused. | Pryde claimed the lorry driver had been trying to get him to sell stolen goods and had lashed out at him when he refused. |
The High Court was told that Pryde then picked up a metal bar and hit Mr Alexander repeatedly until he died as a result of the blows. | The High Court was told that Pryde then picked up a metal bar and hit Mr Alexander repeatedly until he died as a result of the blows. |
He said he then panicked and buried the body in a field beside Errol brickworks. | He said he then panicked and buried the body in a field beside Errol brickworks. |
Pryde confided in his wife Fiona about what he had done. | Pryde confided in his wife Fiona about what he had done. |
Adam Alexander was reported missing in 1999 | |
But after threatening to leave her following an affair, Mrs Pryde told police and a murder inquiry was launched, during which Pryde admitted killing and burying Mr Alexander. | But after threatening to leave her following an affair, Mrs Pryde told police and a murder inquiry was launched, during which Pryde admitted killing and burying Mr Alexander. |
He told officers where he remembered burying the body, but a large-scale search in 2008 failed to find any trace of Mr Alexander. | He told officers where he remembered burying the body, but a large-scale search in 2008 failed to find any trace of Mr Alexander. |
The only bones recovered belonged to a sheep. | The only bones recovered belonged to a sheep. |
Pryde has since told police he is willing to return to the scene and show them exactly where he left Mr Alexander. | Pryde has since told police he is willing to return to the scene and show them exactly where he left Mr Alexander. |
At the High Court in Glasgow, Pryde, a prisoner in Edinburgh, admitted the culpable homicide of Adam Alexander, also known as Adam McTavish, on 14 November 1999. | At the High Court in Glasgow, Pryde, a prisoner in Edinburgh, admitted the culpable homicide of Adam Alexander, also known as Adam McTavish, on 14 November 1999. |
He admitted assaulting and killing his victim at Atholl Cottage, Errol, by repeatedly striking him with a metal object, before disposing of his body at an unknown location. | He admitted assaulting and killing his victim at Atholl Cottage, Errol, by repeatedly striking him with a metal object, before disposing of his body at an unknown location. |
Criminal offences | Criminal offences |
Adam Alexander was last seen alive at his home on 14 November 1999 and had arranged to meet a buyer for his motorbike at 1700 GMT. | Adam Alexander was last seen alive at his home on 14 November 1999 and had arranged to meet a buyer for his motorbike at 1700 GMT. |
He failed to keep the appointment and his distinctive motorcycle leathers were never found, although his car was subsequently seen in Perth a number of times. | He failed to keep the appointment and his distinctive motorcycle leathers were never found, although his car was subsequently seen in Perth a number of times. |
The case was treated as a straightforward missing persons inquiry until the end of 2007 when the focus of the investigation changed. | The case was treated as a straightforward missing persons inquiry until the end of 2007 when the focus of the investigation changed. |
Last year, Mr Alexander's mother, Tricia Bremner, lodged a petition at Perth Sheriff Court to have her son formally declared dead. | Last year, Mr Alexander's mother, Tricia Bremner, lodged a petition at Perth Sheriff Court to have her son formally declared dead. |
The police also created a special MySpace website page to appeal for information about the case after it emerged Mr Alexander may have been killed. | The police also created a special MySpace website page to appeal for information about the case after it emerged Mr Alexander may have been killed. |
Once Tayside Police began the investigation, they uncovered a string of criminal offences which all centred on Pryde, who had not previously been known to the force. | Once Tayside Police began the investigation, they uncovered a string of criminal offences which all centred on Pryde, who had not previously been known to the force. |
This is the first time since Nat Fraser was jailed in 2003 for murdering his wife Arlene that an accused in Scotland has been convicted of a killing where the victim has never been found. | This is the first time since Nat Fraser was jailed in 2003 for murdering his wife Arlene that an accused in Scotland has been convicted of a killing where the victim has never been found. |