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Friend describes attack on Kriss Witness breaks halt Kriss trial
(about 2 hours later)
The trial of three men accused of the abduction and murder of Kriss Donald has heard how he was attacked in the street and bundled into a car. The trial of three men accused of the abduction and murder of Kriss Donald has been halted after a key witness was unable to continue his evidence.
The 15-year-old's friend, Jamie Wallace, 22, has been giving evidence at the High Court in Edinburgh. Jamie Wallace had been describing how he and his 15-year-old friend were attacked by Asian men as they walked in the Pollokshields area of Glasgow.
He said they were walking along Kenmure Street in Pollokshields in March 2004 when they were attacked by a group of Asian men who shouted "white bastards". The 22-year-old had to pause four times as he told the High Court in Edinburgh about the events of 16 March 2004.
The three accused have denied racially-motivated murder.The three accused have denied racially-motivated murder.
Mr Wallace said the first attacker had gingery blonde hair and large muscles and that the attackers tried to punch him as well as his friend. The trial heard the attack came as Mr Wallace and Kriss walked down Kenmure Street.
He said: "I was trying to fight back and trying to watch myself. I was trying to distract them." In court he identified one of the accused, Imran Shahid, as the man who had attacked first, and called him "Baldy".
The two doors shut and they were sitting on him and punching him on the back Jamie Wallace However, the trial also heard that in October last year Mr Wallace failed to pick out Mr Shahid in an identity parade.
Mr Wallace also described a silver-coloured Mercedes car on the street at the time. The best thing to do, in view of the length of time he has been in the witness box, is to stop his evidence today and resume it tomorrow Judge Lord Uist
He said: "Two doors opened and they were trying to drag him into the car." Defence QC David Burns, for Mr Shahid, asked why Mr Wallace had not named "Baldy" as one of the attackers when he first spoke to police.
He told the court that Kriss had tried to use his hands and feet to stop himself being dragged into the car but his jacket was pulled over his head and he was bundled in. Mr Wallace agreed that at the time he did not know Baldy, and had not met him.
"I saw them putting his head in first, then the two doors shut and they were sitting on him and punching him on the back," he said. But he had "a reputation" he added.
Mr Wallace said the Mercedes drove away and he crossed the street and told a woman that his friend had been taken away. The witness was also questioned about his drinking, his use of cannabis and prescribed medication and his mental state at the time of the incident, until the judge called a halt.
He then phoned a friend with the same news, went to his grandmother's house, then to a nearby shop to phone the police. Lord Uist said: "You heard this witness in the course of his evidence asking for a break on several occasions and he asked for another break.
Identity parade "I decided the best thing to do in the circumstances, in view of the length of time he has been in the witness box is to stop his evidence today and resume it tomorrow."
Mr Wallace pointed out one of the accused, Imran Shahid, as the man who had attacked first and called him "Baldy". Before the halt, Mr Wallace said a Mercedes car had arrived in Kenmure Street during the fight.
However, the court also heard that in October last year Mr Wallace was asked to view an identity parade and failed to pick out Imran Shahid. I was trying to fight back and trying to watch myself - I was trying to distract them Jamie Wallace
Defence QC David Burns, for Imran Shahid, suggested that at the time of the alleged abduction Mr Wallace was drinking heavily, smoking cannabis and taking medication for paranoia. He said: "Two doors opened and they were trying to drag him (Kriss) into the car."
Mr Wallace told him: "That is the medication I was prescribed but I wasn't taking them." Mr Wallace said the attackers tried to punch him as well as his friend.
When asked to describe his "paranoia", he said: "I get anxiety attacks and panic attacks." "I was trying to fight back and trying to watch myself. I was trying to distract them," he said.
He described how Kriss had tried to use his hands and feet to stop himself being dragged into the car, but his jacket was pulled over his head and he was bundled in.
"I seen them putting his head in first, then the two doors shut and they were sitting on him and punching him on the back," he said.
The trial has heard that his partially-clothed and scarred body was found the following day on the Clyde Walkway.
Mr Wallace said the Mercedes drove away and he crossed the street and told a woman who was pushing a pram.
Special defenceSpecial defence
Kriss's partially-clothed and scarred body was found the following day on the Clyde Walkway, near Celtic's training ground. He then phoned a friend with the same news, went to his grandmother's house, then to a nearby shop to phone the police, the court heard.
Mr Burns suggested that at the time of the alleged abduction, Mr Wallace was drinking heavily, smoking cannabis and taking medication for paranoia.
Mr Wallace said: "That is the medication I was prescribed but I wasn't taking them."
Asked to describe his "paranoia", he said: "I get anxiety attacks and panic attacks."
Imran Shahid, 29, his brother Zeeshan Shahid, 29, and Mohammed Mushtaq, 27, have been accused of abducting Kriss, repeatedly slashing him with knives or similar instruments and setting him on fire after a drive to Dundee and back.Imran Shahid, 29, his brother Zeeshan Shahid, 29, and Mohammed Mushtaq, 27, have been accused of abducting Kriss, repeatedly slashing him with knives or similar instruments and setting him on fire after a drive to Dundee and back.
The charge against them alleges that they were acting with two other men - Daanish Zahid, who is serving life for the murder, and Zahid Mohammed, 22 - who served half of a five-year sentence for assaulting Kriss and lying to police. The charge against them alleges they were acting with two other men - Daanish Zahid, who is serving life for the murder, and Zahid Mohammed, 22 - who served half of a five-year sentence for assaulting Kriss and lying to police.
Imran Shahid has lodged a special defence blaming Daanish Zahid and Zahid Mohammed "and others" for the murder.Imran Shahid has lodged a special defence blaming Daanish Zahid and Zahid Mohammed "and others" for the murder.
The trial, which has entered its second week, continues. The trial continues.