Deaths of two Scots pensioners killed by mentally ill TV star in row over bins to be probed
dailyrecord.co.ukThe deaths of two pensioners who were killed by a mentally ill neighbour are to be probed on the orders of Scotland's top law officer.Ex-SAS soldier Martyn Smith, 73, and John Whyte, 75, died after being brutally attacked by Oskars Rancevs in a row over rubbish bins.
Rancevs, 37, pushed Smith to the ground before kicking and jumping on him while Whyte was booted in the stomach during the incident in Oban, Argyll.The former Latvian reality TV dance star told police after the attacks: "This is the best day I've ever had." Rancevs was later cleared of murdering Smith and the culpable homicide of Whyte on mental health grounds and ordered to be held without limit of time.The Lord Advocate, Dorothy Bain KC, has ordered a fatal accident inquiry after ruling the circumstances of the deaths in October 2018 give rise to 'serious public concern'.
A preliminary hearing will be held on April 20 at Oban Sheriff Court while the full inquiry will get underway at a later date.The High Court in Glasgow previously heard how Smith had died of blunt force trauma.
Whyte managed to escape after being kicked in the stomach twice and dialled 999 from his flat but died of cardiac arrest caused by stress.Police only discovered him still holding his phone in his hand almost 12 hours after he had phoned the emergency services.
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