A police chief was so determined to solve the murder of a young Celtic footballer that he and two colleagues fabricated a confession from the accused, it was claimed at the High Court in Edinburgh, yesterday.
It had been decided that Lawrence Haggart's had been a homosexual murder and Mr Brian Beattie was responsible, the jury was told during summing up.
Mr Edgar Prais, QC, for Mr Beattie, said Detective Superintendent Joseph Holden, area commander of Central Scotland CID and in charge of the fresh inquiry into the murder, had his distinguished reputation to protect, and the world was ''looking on''.
He said: ''I suggest to you that the police were determined to get their man. They made up their mind they were going to solve this crime. If police could not solve the murder fairly then they would do it unfairly. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the defence calls the police liars.''
Mr Beattie, formerly of Ewing Drive, Falkirk, denies murdering Lawrence Haggart by striking him on the head and body with an unknown weapon and setting fire to him. He also denies attempting to set fire to furniture in the Haggart family home in Glenbervie Drive, Larbert, Stirlingshire, on March 15 or 16, 1996.
In a special defence of incrimination, Mr Beattie blamed the murder on Dennis Haggart, now 14, who denied the allegation in court.
Mr Beattie also claimed a defence of alibi, saying he was in Edinburgh and Denny on the night of the murder.
Of an alleged confession made by Mr Beattie, his counsel said it was strange that when it was supposedly made the police did not tape record it. When the tape was switched off, police recorded a handwritten confession.
He said his client was sobbing hysterically and uncontrollably because he was accused of a murder he had not committed.
Mr Prais said: ''Police had tried to fit-up the alleged confession with details from the medical evidence within their knowledge. Forensic tests were carried out in Scotland and by the FBI Bureau in Washington on behalf of the defence. In all tests, Mr Beattie was eliminated from any connection with the murder scene.
Earlier, Mr Duncan Menzies, QC, prosecuting, said that if police had made up the murder confessions they were worthy of being members of the Royal Shakespeare Company or winners of the Booker Prize.
He suggested the reason why Mr Beattie had broken down during police questioning was that he was ''haunted'' by his guilt.
The jury will retire to consider their verdict today, after Lord Dawson completes his charge.
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