Gunman freed to wait for appeal

A pensioner, who shot three young men because he said he felt threatened, has been freed from jail to wait for his appeal against a two-year sentence.

Alexander Brown, 67, was convicted of four firearms offences at Dumbarton Sheriff Court two months ago. But, after being held in Greenock Prison, he was released pending his appeal hearing in Edinburgh on February 21. Former TV cameraman Brown fired an air rifle at a group of boys, injuring three of them - one seriously, near the garden of his cottage on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Murder charge

A MAN appeared in court yesterday charged with murdering a retired Kilmarnock bank clerk. Mr David Asbury, 20, of Castle Avenue, Kilbirnie, appeared in private at the town's sheriff court accused of murdering 51-year-old Marion Ross who was found dead on January 8. His lawyer Lesley Dowdalls confirmed he had made no plea or declaration but refused to detail the charge. Asbury was remanded in custody by Sheriff Marcus Green for further examination.

Body found

THE body of a man was found in a Benbecula house yesterday after firefighters had to break down the door. The dead man was named as Mr Archie Taylor, an unemployed Glasgow-born man who had stayed in the house for a number of years.

Harbour facelift

WORK has started on a major facelift scheme for Annan harbour which will take three months to complete, cost almost #500,000, and provide modern facilities for the fishermen using the Port Street harbour.

Warrant issued

A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of 17-year-old Julie Mullins who failed to appear at Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court to answer a charge of stealing five items of mail containing #1058 from a postal receiving box in Castle Douglas. Miss Mullins, of Cairnsmore Road, Castle Douglas, is accused of acting with a child to steal from the box in the town's King Street.

River poachers

AN upsurge in poaching on the River Nith - particularly the Dumfries area - has been reported to local councillors. The report put before them showed that during the past year 45 arrests were made, nine nets seized, and three cars taken possession of.

US charity run

SIX accountancy students from Dundee University are to run in this year's New York marathon to raise cash for a charity that provides wheelchairs for disabled people.