Soldier jailed for racist murder

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Soldier Michael Ross, 30, was just 15 when he burst into a restaurant on Orkney and shot Shamsuddin Mahmood in front of horrified diners.

The Black Watch soldier was told by judge Lord Hardie he must spend a minimum of 25 years behind bars before being eligible for parole.

Ross, who was handcuffed as he stood in the dock remained stony-faced as he was sentenced.

Lord Hardie told him: "This was a vicious, evil, unprovoked murder of a defenceless man. The attack was a premeditated assassination."

He added: "On June 2, 1994, you murdered him (Shamsuddin Mahmood) in cold blood in a premeditated fashion.

"He is a great loss to his family and friends and the people he served."

The "savage, merciless and pointless" murder was the first on Orkney for 25 years and the verdict brought a 14 year mystery to an end.

A masked Ross burst into the Mumutaz restaurant on Orkney, just after 7pm on June 2, 1994 and shot the 26-year-old waiter in front of shocked diners.

The jury found Ross guilty of murder by a majority verdict after a six week trial. He was also found guilty by majority of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of the murder weapon and changing his clothing.