18-Year-Old Arrested in Brutal Beating, Burning and Murder of Gay Scottish Barman
Police investigating the death of Scottish barman Stuart Walker, who was beaten and burned to death last Saturday, have arrested an 18-year-old man suspected in his death.
“The teenager is expected to appear at Ayr Sheriff Court on Monday,” STV reported.
Walker’s body was found in an industrial park on the outskirts of his hometown in Cumnock, Scotland. He was beaten, set on fire and left to die. Initial reports that he was tied to a lamppost were incorrect, according to police. Detectives are now also saying there is a “possibility” Stuart had been subjected to a sexual assault before his death. Though, detectives are keeping mum on specific injuries in case they prove to be “prejudicial in the future.”
Walker’s sexuality is now the main focus of the investigation. “I don’t think it was a random attack by someone who will strike again,” said Strathclyde Police Divisional Commander John Thomson. “I suspect Stuart may have known this individual or met this individual shortly before his death.”
Police are still trying to untangle what happened to Walker and establish what occurred in the two hours prior to the established time of death.
Prime Minister David Cameron urged the public to help solve the murder on Wednesday after Labour MP Sandra Osborne mentioned Walker’s case at the Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons.
Said Cameron: “The police are the public and the public are the police.The police cannot solve crimes without the help of the public and I hope everyone will cooperate in the best way they can.”
According to the Daily Mail, Walker was himself being investigated in connection to an alleged indecent incident involving a 12-year-old boy back in August. That investigation has since been closed. It stands to reason Walker was cleared in that incident since there are no reports of legal action taken against him. Police have stressed that one case has nothing to do with the other at this time.
But the allegation is being called “malicious” in addition to untrue: “The [Daily] Record can reveal the man who made the allegation was a 44-year-old with a long criminal record including rape, assault, car theft and housebreaking. And prosecutors planned to throw out the case. The man who lodged the complaint cannot be named because it would identify his son, the subject of the allegation.”
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