A Tayside teenager accused of murder is to make a bid for release on bail.
Tasmin Glass from Kirriemuir has instructed her solicitor to lodge an appeal against remand imposed by a sheriff at Forfar this week following her appearance with two co-accused over the alleged murder of 27-year-old Arbroath oil worker Steven Donaldson.
Glass, 19, Callum Davidson and Steven Dickie, both 23 and also from Kirriemuir, were fully committed and remanded in custody after making a second appearance at Forfar Sheriff Court on Tuesday.
Mr Donaldson, 27, was found dead at the RSPB Loch of Kinnordy nature reserve near Kirriemuir in the early hours of Thursday June 7.
Glass faced a single charge of murder.
Davidson and Dickie also faced charges of breach of the peace, while Davidson faced an additional charge of assault.
They made no plea to the charges during brief separate hearings before Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown.
Prosecutors allege Mr Donaldson was attacked with a heavy bladed weapon before he and his BMW car were set on fire.
Glass’s solicitor, Brian Bell confirmed he had received instruction to lodge a bail appeal on his client’s behalf.
It is anticipated that will be heard at the Sheriff Appeal Court in Edinburgh early next week. No appeal has been lodged on behalf of Davidson or Dickie.
The trio were fully committed at the latest Forfar hearing, starting a legal process which requires an indictment to be served upon them within 80 days.
If they remain in custody, they must then be brought to trial within 140 days, although prosecutors can apply for a a time bar extension.
Following service of the indictment, a preliminary hearing will take place to consider the state of preparation in the case.
Meanwhile, a fundraising campaign to support the family of Mr Donaldson set up by one of his life-long friends has raised more than £1,500.
Fraser Evans, 30, a businessman in the town, said he had known Steven all his life and wanted to do something to help.
He said: “We stayed round the corner from each other and had a mutual love for all kinds of bikes, from pushbikes when we were young to motorbikes.
“So many people in Arbroath had been saying they wanted to do something to help and support his family.
“I thought if we could raise money for them then it would be something that people could get involved in.
“I didn’t want to do anything without asking his family’s permission however and they have agreed that it would all right for me to do this.
“The family understand allowing us to do this is helping us find acceptance that he is gone and is aiding us in some form of closure. We, his friends, know that if it were us, he would stop at nothing to do the same.
“We are raising funds to allow everyone who wishes to make contributions to support the family with the cost of anything they face in the coming weeks, including the funeral.”
A £500 target was reached within just two days of the page being set up.
Mr Evans added: “I just wanted to get something started and see what came in. So far everyone has been very generous.”
