Latest news with #TheOrkneyAssassin:MurderInTheIsles
Scottish Sun
12-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Where is The Orkney Assassin Michael Ross now?
The schoolboy murderer is behind bars but pleads innocence three decades on SENSELESS MURDER Where is The Orkney Assassin Michael Ross now? THE Orkney Assassin, Michael Ross, was just 15 years old when he murdered waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood. On June 2 1994, Ross shot the waiter while he served customers in an Indian restaurant in Orkney, an island located off the northern coast of Scotland. 2 The waiter was murdered at an Indian restaurant in front of terrified diners Credit: PA:Press Association Where is Michael Ross now? Michael Ross, born on 28 August 1978, was found guilty of the murder in 2008 and is serving a life sentence in HMP Shotts in Lanarkshire, with a minimum of 25 years. Ross was originally questioned by police six months after the murder of the 26-year-old waiter, but prosecutors ruled there was not enough evidence to charge the teenager. In the following summer, Ross left the island of Orkney, where he was born, and 17 joined the Scottish regiment. From there, he progressed through the ranks and became a decorated Black Watch sniper after serving a tour of duty in Iraq. Read More on Michael Ross ISLAND OF FEAR How bombshell letter cracked 'hitman' killing that rocked sleepy UK island But on June 20 2008, he was brought to justice in the High Court in Glasgow. 2 Michael Ross, accused of murder, arriving at Glasgow High Court. Credit: PA:Press Association During his guilty verdict, Ross, dramatically tried to flee by jumping out of the dock and knocking over the security guard. Now 47 years old, Ross has tried to escape HMP Shotts, one of Scotland's highest security prisons, three times, including an attempt to scale the fence in 2018. As a result, he was sentenced to two years in prison to run alongside his life term of which he has served 17 years so far. What happened to Shamsuddin Mahmood? The murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood took place on June 2, 1994 when he was fatally shot after a man wearing a balaclava entered Mumataz Restaurant in Kirkwall at around 7.10pm and exited the premises shortly after. Shamsuddin had arrived in Orkney only six weeks before and had plans to return to Bangladesh to marry his fiancée. Shamsuddin's murder was the first to take place on the island in 25 years and during the original investigation, 2,736 statements were taken. Ross' mother Moira, recounted the time Michael came home from the police station when he was 16 years old. She went upstairs and asked whether he had shot Shamsuddin six months before, which he denied. During the investigation, Edmund Ross' career as a police officer ended after he lied about the fact that he owned identical bullets to those used in the murder weapon. Edmund Ross was subsequently jailed for four years in 1997 for perverting the course of justice. It is reported that Michael Ross' earliest possible release is in 2035. How to watch The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles Amazon Prime Video has released a special titled The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles, providing insight from law enforcement officers, eyewitnesses, journalists, and also interviews with Ross' parents, who maintain his innocence. The first episode aired on Sunday, June 8 2025.
The Irish Sun
12-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Where is The Orkney Assassin Michael Ross now?
THE Orkney Assassin, Michael Ross, was just 15 years old when he murdered waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood. On June 2 1994, 2 The waiter was murdered at an Indian restaurant in front of terrified diners Credit: PA:Press Association Where is Michael Ross now? Ross was originally questioned by police six months after the murder of the 26-year-old waiter, but prosecutors ruled there was not enough evidence to charge the teenager. In the following summer, Ross left the island of Orkney, where he was born, and 17 joined the Scottish regiment. From there, he progressed through the ranks and became a decorated Black Watch sniper after serving a tour of duty in Iraq. Read More on Michael Ross But on June 20 2008, he was brought to justice in the High Court in Glasgow. 2 Michael Ross, accused of murder, arriving at Glasgow High Court. Credit: PA:Press Association During his guilty verdict, Ross, dramatically tried to flee by jumping out of the dock and knocking over the security guard. Now 47 years old, Ross As a result, he was sentenced to two years in prison to run alongside his life term of which he has served 17 years so far. Most read in News What happened to Shamsuddin Mahmood? The murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood took place on June 2, 1994 when he was fatally shot after a man wearing a balaclava entered Mumataz Restaurant in Kirkwall at around 7.10pm and exited the premises shortly after. Shamsuddin had arrived in Orkney only six weeks before and had plans to return to Bangladesh to marry his fiancée. Shamsuddin's murder was the first to take place on the island in 25 years and during the original investigation, 2,736 statements were taken. Ross' mother Moira, recounted the time Michael came home from the police station when he was 16 years old. She went upstairs and asked whether he had shot Shamsuddin six months before, which he denied. During the investigation, Edmund Ross' career as a police officer ended after he lied about the fact that he owned identical bullets to those used in the murder weapon. Edmund Ross was subsequently jailed for four years in 1997 for perverting the course of justice. It is reported that Michael Ross' earliest possible release is in 2035. How to watch The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles Amazon Prime Video has released a special titled The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles, providing insight from law enforcement officers, eyewitnesses, journalists, and also interviews with Ross' parents, who maintain his innocence. The first episode aired on Sunday, June 8 2025.
Edinburgh Live
10-06-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Michael Ross' lawyer hopes The Orkney Assassin documentary will 'encourage new witnesses'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Michael Ross' lawyer is optimistic that the new Prime Video documentary The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles will unearth "new evidence". It's been three decades since the appalling murder of 26 year old Shamsuddin Mahmood, who was shot dead while working at Mumtaz Restaurant in Kirkwall, Orkney. The masked assailant entered the restaurant and swiftly left after firing the fatal shot, leaving onlookers in shock. Ross, who faced questioning at age 15, managed to avoid arrest for 14 years until his 2008 conviction. To commemorate the anniversary of Mahmood's murder, Prime Video has launched the documentary, featuring insights from journalists, ex-police officers, Ross' family, and eyewitnesses. (Image: PRIME VIDEO) Ross' legal representative Aamer Anwar shared the main motivations for participating in the Prime Video production. "The basis for us taking part in this was one, to ensure it was a balanced documentary," he explained. "I appreciate at the end of the day that Michael is a convicted killer and of course, this is not a case of no documentary would be doing its job if it simply presented all one side unless you could provide completely overwhelming evidence, as has happened in the past. This is not one of those cases. "But we were very much of the view that the passage of time either means that there's somebody on the island that knows more than they said at the time. (Image: PRIME VIDEO/ORKNEY PHOTOGRPAHIC) "There are people who were scared at the time, the passage of time might have taken that away or people who have a guilty conscience that they didn't come forward. "And one hopes that those people would at this stage. That would strike as new evidence, that would be people who didn't come forward, to explain what happened, who saw what happened, who knew what happened, who knew exactly who it was that pulled the trigger." In the time since his conviction, Ross has remained adamant that he isn't guilty of murdering Mahmood when he was 15. 'You still have someone who claims he is innocent, who has never given up that he is innocent, who is still fighting to prove his innocence.', Anwar added. 'He could have made his life a lot easier by saying 'I did it.' A lot more chance of parole then, a lot more chance of getting out earlier.' The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles is available to watch on Prime Video.
Edinburgh Live
09-06-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Orkney Assassin Michael Ross' lawyer describers convicted killer as 'gentle'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Michael Ross' lawyer praised the convicted murderer as "well-mannered" and "gentle" upon their first meeting. Prime Video has just dropped its gripping new documentary, The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles, on Sunday, June 8, featuring interviews with former police officers, journalists, witnesses and Ross' own parents about the chilling murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood. Ross was convicted for killing the Indian restaurant waiter in 2008, 14 years after Mahmood's death, with the former Army sniper given a life sentence for the cirme. During the trial, Ross had Donald Findlay QC fighting his corner, but as the documentary reveals, with over 10 years left until he's up for parole, Ross hired a new lawyer. Scottish solicitor Aamer Anwar confessed to some initial doubts about taking on the infamous case in the documentary. (Image: PRIME VIDEO) He shared: "So when it came in, there was some healthy cynicism. "'Why me? You know my reputation. You know I fight injustice, human rights and on race' but they said that's exactly the reason why Michael wanted me to have a look at the case. "And when I met Michael, he was well mannered, considered, gentle." (Image: PRIME VIDEO) Despite years behind bars, Ross is remains insisted about his innocence and has tried to escape prison three times, with the most recent attempt in 2018 when he attempted to climb a fence. Anwar adds: "And the fact that in all these years, he's maintained his innocence. "That always strikes me when somebody refuses to take the easy option and go 'you know what, I'm guilty' to try and get out earlier. "But he's refused to do that, he says he cannot do that, he insists he's an innocent man. And it's never ended." The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles is available to watch on Prime Video.
Edinburgh Live
09-06-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Michael Ross still in 'no man's land' as Prime Video drops Orkney Assassin documentary
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Michael Ross' solicitor has claimed that his client, who maintains his innocence, is stuck in "no man's land" three decades after being convicted of murder. Back in June 1994, a masked figure donning a balaclava entered the Mumataz Restaurant in Kirwall at about 7.10pm and fatally shot 26-year-old waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood before exiting the scene. Despite 14 years going by, Ross, then aged 15, was apprehended and found guilty of the crime in 2008. Following his conviction at the High Court in Glasgow, Ross notoriously attempted to flee but was thwarted and now remains incarcerated for life at HMP Shotts in Lanarkshire, as reported by the BBC. Prime Video has recently unveiled a one-off special titled The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles, which includes interviews with officers, eyewitnesses, journalists, and Ross' parents,. In an exclusive chat with Screen Time prior to the documentary airing, Ross' lawyer Aamer Anwar provided an insight into his client's current plight. (Image: PRIME VIDEO/ORKNEY PHOTOGRAPHIC) "I suppose he's very much in no man's land," he commented. "The difficulty with an appeal you've ever watched Shawshank Redemption and Andy comes into prison and Morgan Freeman tells him 'Don't you know everyone's innocent inside'. "But I've come to learn from over 25 years of being a lawyer that the reality is there are lots of innocent people inside prison. "How to prove it is another matter, because the system is almost a raid against human rights throughout the United Kingdom, to be able to fight your appeal and to prove your innocence. "And even if you say you have five pinnacles of evidence, five issues, and one is so critical. "For instance, someone comes in and lies about you and says 'I saw him, that's definitely him.' "But that person is ruled out, 'well we'll still rely on the other four afterwards.' "The damage is already done. So therein lies the problem, as in people remain convicted." Anwar then highlighted the crucial role of DNA in cases like Ross', stating: "The idea that someone could walk into a restaurant, shoot someone at point blank range and not leave anything of themselves, beggar's belief. "I always say to my lecture students, to commit a murder is extremely difficult. "To not leave anything of yourself: footprints, DNA, CCTV maybe, whatever it may be. "Fair enough, this is a remote island but there were still people there. "The idea that this person then disappears into the darkness? Then begs the question that people always said, 'well they never closed the ports of entry and exit.' "Is it somebody from off the island that came on, well how do they know? They didn't." Even though three decades have passed, Ross maintains his innocence, with the former Army sniper having attempted to break out of prison thrice, the latest being in 2018 when he tried to scale a fence. "You still have someone who claims he is innocent, who has never given up that he is innocent, who is still fighting to prove his innocence," Anwar added. "He could have made his life a lot easier by saying 'I did it.' A lot more chance of parole then, a lot more chance of getting out earlier." The Orkney Assassin: Murder In The Isles is available to watch on Prime Video.
