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Defence summing up in Kriss trial Defence summing up in Kriss trial
(about 3 hours later)
Lawyers for the defence have begun making their closing speeches to the jury in the Kriss Donald murder trial.Lawyers for the defence have begun making their closing speeches to the jury in the Kriss Donald murder trial.
Imran Shahid, 29, his brother Zeeshan, 28, and Mohammed Faisal Mushtaq, 27, deny the racially-aggravated murder of 15-year-old Kriss in Glasgow in 2004.Imran Shahid, 29, his brother Zeeshan, 28, and Mohammed Faisal Mushtaq, 27, deny the racially-aggravated murder of 15-year-old Kriss in Glasgow in 2004.
David Burns QC, who is representing Imran Shahid, said there was no doubt a terrible murder had taken place. David Burns QC, representing Imran Shahid, questioned whether prosecutors had proved beyond a reasonable doubt that his client had been involved.
But he questioned whether prosecutors had proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr Shahid had been involved. Mr Mushtaq's lawyer said a key witness should be serving life for murder.
The prosecution case relied heavily on evidence given by Zahid Mohammed, who appeared in court the day after he was freed from a five-year jail sentence for helping abduct Kriss and lying to police afterwards. Donald Findlay QC, representing Mr Mushtaq, said in his closing speech that witness Zahid Mohammed had "conned" the prosecution during the first murder trial in 2004.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Mr Burns told jurors that Mohammed had "done a deal" with the Crown so that charges for his own part in the abduction of Kriss were reduced to assault and perverting the course of justice. The prosecution case relied heavily on evidence given by Mohammed, who appeared in court the day after he was freed from a five-year jail sentence for helping abduct Kriss and lying to police afterwards.
No evidence
Mr Findlay said: "He walked away because he conned the prosecution throughout his whole involvement in this."
He also told jurors there was no evidence to tie Mr Mushtaq to the murder.
"In 24 days you have not heard one single, solitary piece of evidence that puts Faisal at the walkway by the Clyde, behind the Celtic supporters' club in his life, let alone on the day Kriss Donald died," he said.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Imran Shahid's QC told jurors that Zahid Mohammed had "done a deal" with the Crown so that charges for his own part in the abduction of Kriss were reduced to assault and perverting the course of justice.
Zahid Mohammed gave evidence the day after his release from prisonZahid Mohammed gave evidence the day after his release from prison
The defence QC said: "He is one of the perpetrators of this crime and I suggest to you his motivation from the earliest stages has been self interest, self preservation and to minimise his own involvement to save his own skin. Mr Burns QC said: "He is one of the perpetrators of this crime and I suggest to you his motivation from the earliest stages has been self interest, self preservation and to minimise his own involvement to save his own skin.
"He has got away with murder.""He has got away with murder."
"He is manipulative and cunning. That is the sort of person the Crown asks you to award a badge of credibility and reliability.""He is manipulative and cunning. That is the sort of person the Crown asks you to award a badge of credibility and reliability."
Imran Shahid has lodged a special defence blaming Zahid Mohammed and others for the murder of Kriss, who was abducted from the Pollokshields area of Glasgow on 15 March 2004.Imran Shahid has lodged a special defence blaming Zahid Mohammed and others for the murder of Kriss, who was abducted from the Pollokshields area of Glasgow on 15 March 2004.
The defence QC also said the jury should not draw any "adverse inference" from Imran Shahid's trip to Pakistan in the aftermath of the murder.The defence QC also said the jury should not draw any "adverse inference" from Imran Shahid's trip to Pakistan in the aftermath of the murder.
He had been married that January and went to join his wife, he said, but returned to Scotland voluntarily.He had been married that January and went to join his wife, he said, but returned to Scotland voluntarily.
The trial continues.The trial continues.