Teenage boys who murdered pensioner sentenced to life imprisonment

Keirin McMillan or Elliott, who was 19 at the time of the offence, and two boys aged 16 and 17 were convicted in November of last year of the murder and robbery of Alasdair McPherson Forsyth in Edinburgh.

The court heard that police officers were called to a flat in the Prestonfield area in the evening of 21 February 2019 following a report of an incident.

On arrival, they met the three teenagers coming down the stairs. A hammer, a wrench, a screwdriver and a mobile phone were dropped to the floor.

Mr Forsyth was found with serious injuries to his head and body. Efforts were made to resuscitate him but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 16 and 17-year-old were also found guilty of other offences including an attack on a 14-year-old boy at a McDonald’s, assault and robbery of another 14-year-old boy in Ferniehill and an attack on shopping centre security guards.

David Green, procurator fiscal for major crime and homicide, said: “This was a brutal, sustained attack using weapons on a vulnerable 67 year-old man in his own home.

“The motive appears to have been robbery and it is clear they had no qualms about using violence and have shown no remorse for their actions.

“The swift response of the police led to the capture of these three criminals at the scene, obtaining key evidence that allowed the prosecution to put forward a strong case and ultimately protecting the wider community from their violent behaviour.”