Court / Two to stand trial accused of murdering Tracy Walker

A TRIAL date has been set for two suspects accused of murdering Tracy Walker at Ladies Drive, in Lerwick, in July this year.

Ross MacDougall (31) and Dawn Smith (28) are both charged with killing Tracy Walker on 30 July. They are also accused of trying to rob her.

Prosecutors claim the 40 year old suffered blunt force trauma “by means unknown”, had her neck compressed and was repeatedly struck with a knife.

The pair are further accused of assaulting a man there on the same day by brandishing a knife at him and did intend to rob him.

They are also accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice after the alleged killing. It is said they asked a man to provide an alibi, a change of clothes and a bag.

Prosecutors claim this was to help “conceal and destroy evidence’ as well as “avoid detection”.

MacDougall alone faces a separate allegation of taking a car from a house in Lerwick.

Smith is also charged with having a knife in a public place.

The pair denied the accusations during a short hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday.

MacDougall’s lawyer Shahid Latif and Paul Nelson, defending Smith, agreed with prosecutor Duncan McPhie that a trial could be set.

Lord Turnbull fixed a trial due to begin on 14 April next year at the High Court in Livingston.

Grant McCabe of Glasgow Court Press Agency