A 65-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the deaths of two men on Greendykes Road in Edinburgh. A second man, 40, has been arrested and enquiries remain ongoing.
Officers were called to a flat in the area around 8.25pm on Tuesday, 1 November.
The two men, aged 66 and 37, were pronounced dead at the scene and their next of kin have been made aware.
Their deaths are being treated as suspicious and a murder inquiry is now ongoing, led by officers from Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team.
The 65-year-old man is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Friday, 4 November).
Detective Chief Inspector Susan Balfour, of the Major Investigation Team, said: “Our thoughts are very much with the families and friends of both men at what is a very difficult time for them.
“We have a dedicated team of officers in the area working on this investigation. This is likely to continue in the coming days and I would like to thank the local community for their understanding as our work continues.
“We understand that this is an upsetting incident for the local community and I would urge anyone with concerns to speak to one of our officers.”
Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information after a stolen car failed to stop when signalled to do so by officers.
The vehicle, which had been reported stolen from Paisley Avenue around 8.40am on Thursday (13 October 2022) was asked to stop by officers in Whitehill Road around 9.50am the same day.
The Grey VW Golf GTI was pursued and subsequently brought to a stop on London Road after a collision involving a marked police vehicle.
A 19-year-old man, the driver, has been arrested and charged in connection with the incident and was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday (Friday, 14 October 2022).
Two other men, passengers in the car, left the scene and enquiries are ongoing to trace them:
Male 1 – white, late teens, skinny build and average height. He was wearing a black beanie hat with a black puffer style jacket and grey cotton type jogging bottoms and dark trainers.
Male 2 – white, late teens, average height and build, wearing all dark clothing
Detective Inspector George Calder said: “As part of our ongoing enquiries we are keen to speak to the passengers who were in this car. I am appealing to anyone who knows who they are or where they might be to get in touch.
“In addition, anyone with dash-cam or private CCTV that might show which direction they took after leaving the car in London Road is asked to speak with us.”
Anyone who can help is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0835 of Thursday, 13 October, 2022. Or make a call anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
TWO MEN TO APPEAR AT EDINBURGH SHERIFF COURT TODAY
Detectives investigating the disappearance of Peter Coshan (75) have arrested and charged two men and are continuing to appeal for information.
Former Fettes College teacher Peter Coshan was last seen in the Seafield Road area of Edinburgh around 11.50pm on Thursday, 11 August, 2022 and was reported missing the next day.
Officers can confirm that Peter, of Edinburgh, is believed to be dead and they are treating his death as murder. However, his body is yet to be recovered.
Two men, aged 27 and 63, have been arrested and charged in connection. Both men are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today Thursday, 18 August.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Patrick, of Police Scotland Major Investigation Team is appealing to the public for information. He said: “Our thoughts are very much with Peter’s family at this difficult time.
“Extensive enquiries are ongoing to trace Peter and I would encourage anyone with any information regarding Peter’s disappearance to contact police as a matter of urgency.
“Any piece of information, no matter how small or insignificant you think it is, could prove vital so please do pass it on to officers.
“We have also set up a website that gives members of the public access to a form to send information directly to the Major Investigation Team.
“You can select to remain anonymous when submitting information.
A 40-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a large scale fraud in Edinburgh, Lothians & Fife which happened between January 2018 and April 2022.
Following an investigation by Drylaw Initiative Team, it was established that the man defrauded 21 victims out of £25,000.
He is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Friday, 8 July, 2022).
Hibernian’s international defender Ryan Porteous has been ordered to pay a woman compensation for hitting her with a plastic tumbler. The incident happened during a night out in Dalkeith in February.
Ryan Porteous (23) pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday to culpable and reckless conduct after throwing a plastic glass and causing a small cut to the head of Siobhan Brett. He was fined £320 and ordered to pay Ms Brett £200.
Hibernian FC released a statement shortly after yesterday’s court appearance: ‘Hibernian FC fully condemns the actions of Ryan Porteous. Whilst observing the conclusion of the legal proceedings, the club investigated this internally.
‘Hibernian FC fully understands the severity of this incident, as does Ryan, and he has been handed the maximum possible fine, alongside receiving punishment at court.
‘Hibernian FC expects the highest standards of responsible behaviour from its players and staff. This has been firmly reinforced to the player.
‘This will now remain a private matter and Hibernian FC will make no further comment.‘
Three men have been arrested and charged following the recovery of a six-figure sum of Class A drugs during a proactive operation in North Edinburgh.
A warrant was executed at a property in Pilton Drive North yesterday (Tuesday 14 June). Officers searched the property and seized a quantity of heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, with an estimated street value of £130,500.
Three men – aged 29, 38, and 56 – have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
They are expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Wednesday, 15 June.
Detective Inspector Bob Campbell, of Edinburgh CID, said: “Tackling serious and organised criminality is a priority for Police Scotland and this significant recovery reinforces our determination to target criminals.
“Drug misuse brings nothing but misery to our communities and people’s lives can be ruined.
“I want to reassure the public that we will continue to use every tool and tactic at our disposal to remove these illegal substances from our streets.
“Serious and organised crime has no place in our society and we will continue to disrupt this, and any other criminal activity, which impacts on our lives and our communities.”
Chief Inspector Sarah Taylor, local area commander, said: “We depend on the continued support from our local communities and I would like to thank members of the public who have come forward with vital information, which assisted our investigations.
“I would urge anyone who has any information, or concerns surrounding drugs in their area, to contact police.
“Anyone with concerns can call officers on 101 or alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
A 31-year-old man has been charged with six offences related to housebreakings and theft.
Officers responded to a call from a member of the public in the Barnton area during the early hours of Tuesday morning (18 January) regarding suspicious activity.
Officers attended and arrested the man nearby. The charges relate to offences which took place between 15 and 18 January 2022.
The man will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.
A man has been arrested and charged following an attempted robbery at a convenience store on West Granton Road.
The incident happened around 7.45am yesterday (Sunday, 10 October). The 31-year-old man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow (Tuesday 12 October).
Detective Inspector Kevin Tait said: “Fortunately no one was hurt and there was no threat to the wider public. I would like to thank the public for their patience.”
The Moderator of the General Assembly Lord Jim Wallace has embarked on a ten-day schedule to learn more about the life and work of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Lord Wallace said he is looking forward to attending events organised by the Presbytery of Edinburgh which will see him meet people from all walks of life and learn how they have coped during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Presbytery visits provide Moderators with an opportunity to offer encouragement and support to church members and the communities they serve.
Due to the lockdown, this is the first fully in-person visit to take place since 2019.
Lord Wallace, Moderator of the General Assembly
Lord Wallace, a QC and former MP and MSP, said the city is close to his heart. “I am very much looking forward to my first presbytery visit, not least because it is Edinburgh where I went to university, trained as a lawyer, practiced as a lawyer, sat in the Scottish Parliament and where I met my wife, Rosie,” he said.
“I am very grateful to the presbytery for putting together a very comprehensive programme, which will allow me to engage with a whole range of people who reflect my interests and background.”
Candidates
The programme will see Lord Wallace visit churches, hospitals, universities and a prison and meet ordinary church members, politicians, senior figures in the judiciary, ministers, chaplains and interfaith and ecumenical leaders.
Lord Wallace was ordained as an elder at what was St Bernard’s Church in Stockbridge in 1981. It is now called Stockbridge Parish Church and Lord Wallace joined the congregation there yesterday (above).
In the evening, the Moderator led worship at Holy Trinity Church in Wester Hailes.
Lord Wallace will meet with Councillor Frank Ross, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, at the City Chambers today and will later attend an event at New College to mark their 175th Anniversary and meet candidates for the ministry.
This evening, the Moderator will attend a civic event at the City Chambers for members of the Edinburgh Area Children’s Panel who make sure that a young person is at the heart of legal decisions that affect them.
Many church members are involved in this work and Lady Wallace, who will be accompanying her husband, was a panel member for many years until recently.
Courts and prison
On Tuesday, Lord Wallace, who is currently sitting on the non-affiliated benches in the House of Lords, is visiting the Charteris Centre run by Greyfriars Kirk, which is based in a refurbished church building at The Pleasance which is nearing completion.
It is a social enterprise initiative which seeks to provide a place for connection with communities of all kinds.
Afterwards he will visit Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Courts to hear more about the administration of justice, especially during the pandemic.
Lord Wallace will then travel to HMP Edinburgh in the Saughton area of the city where he will be given a tour and introduced to staff, prisoners and the chaplains who support them.
On Wednesday, he will visit Napier University’s Sighthill campus where he will meet Principal Andrea Nolan and be given a tour of the Clinical Centre in School of Health and Social Care.
He will meet staff, students, members of the university’s chaplaincy team and Professor Gary Hutchinson and Liz Aston from the School of Applied Sciences to discuss work with Scottish Institute For Policing Research.
In the afternoon, the Moderator will visit the Granton Goes Greener project at Granton Parish Church to learn more about an innovative clothes upcycling project which is part of work to reduce consumption as part of efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
He will later attend a special Presbytery service in St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile, which will be attended by the church’s ecumenical and interfaith partners, as well as national and civic leaders, and will be followed by a reception in Parliament Hall which will bring people from the worlds of religion, politics and legal profession together.
On Thursday, the Moderator is visiting Edinburgh Airport with Rev Moira MacDonald, minister of Corstorphine Old Parish Church and Workplace Chaplain, Esther Elliot, to hear about the work of workplace chaplains.
He will later meet with the Principal of the University of Edinburgh and visit the law school – the place where he studied – to speak with students and staff.
Frontline chaplains
In the evening, the Moderator will attend a Presbyterial Guild event in Craiglockhart Parish Church, speaking on the theme of “Look forward in Faith”.
On Friday, he is visiting the Royal Blind School, the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and will attend an evening reception at Edinburgh Castle for chaplains who serve in a wide variety of contexts – hospitals, the military, universities and the workplace.
Lord Wallace said: “I am looking forward to meeting people engaged in chaplaincy, many of whom have been at the front line during the COViD-19 crisis.
“I will be very much in listening mode and hope to provide them with encouragement.”
Polwarth Parish Church is the Moderator’s next stop where, on Saturday, he will visit the new All Aboard canal boat that the congregation jointly own with a charity called People Know How.
It is used for spiritual and educational pursuits on the Union Canal, which links Edinburgh and Falkirk.
The Moderator will take part in worship at Tron, Moredun and Gilmerton Church on Sunday and join members of Leith Churches for a special service in the evening.
He will visit the Richmond’s Hope bereavement project for children and young people at Richmond Craigmillar Church the following day.
Very Rev Dr Derek Browning, Moderator of Edinburgh Presbytery, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Lord Wallace.
“Presbytery visits allow Moderators to meet local Christians and gain a wider perspective of how the Church, and the communities we support, engage.”
