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In this episode, I tell the story of Kenneth Syme, a 48-year-old man killed in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, on January 1, 1995.
Kenneth attended a Hogmanay party at a tenement in Faifley, close to his home, and was later thrown out of a third-floor window by Kenneth McGuire over an alleged debt he was owed.
Somehow, Kenneth Syme survived that fall and was brought back up to the flat, where he was promptly thrown out of the same window once more by McGuire, killing him.
Three men were initially charged with murder, but one of the accused turned on the others and became a key witness for the prosecution.
McGuire received a life sentence in April 1995 with a minimum term of 15 years for Kenneth's murder, with Michael Fay receiving a nine-year sentence for attempted murder.
Intro music:
David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'
linktr.ee/davidjohnbradymusic
References:
3 face death charge. (1995, January 5). Daily Record, 17.
Allister, D. (1995a, April 22). Victim was “pushed” ouf of window twice. The Scotsman, 7.
Allister, D. (1995b, April 28). Body-in-bin killer jailed for life. The Scotsman, 9.
Crown asks trial to believe frightened witnesses. (1995, April 27). The Herald. Retrieved October 28, 2023, from https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12109500.crown-asks-trial-to-believe-frightened-witnesses/
Dean, S. (1995, January 3). Three for court after man’s body found. The Scotsman, 3.
Hogmanay murderer is jailed for life. (1995, April 28). Dundee Courier, 8.
Incrimination. (n.d.). Crime.Scot. Retrieved October 28, 2023, from https://crime.scot/incrimination/
Life for wheelie-bin murderer. (1995, May 5). Clyde Weekly News, 3.
Man is cleared of murder charge. (1995, April 20). Dundee Courier, 12.
Man recalls body find in bin. (1995, April 25). The Scotsman, 6.
Two to stand trial on wheelie bin murder. (1995, January 20). Clyde Weekly News, 3.
Victim thrown from window twice. (1995, April 22). The Herald. Retrieved October 28, 2023, from https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12111126.victim-thrown-from-window-twice/
Wheelie-bin death: two sent for trial. (1995, January 13). The Scotsman, 4.
Woman denies murdering husband. (1979, November 24). Aberdeen Press and Journal, 5.
Women thought body was dummy. (1995, April 28). Clyde Weekly News, 3.
Youth gets life term for murder. (1979, December 22). The Scotsman, 8.
