09/04/2014 Reporting Scotland

expenses claims, saying she had become a distraction. Now it

Tonight, on Reporting Scotland: Police hunt an intruder after a

51-year-old woman is murdered and her 85-year-old partner seriously

injured at their home in Glasgow. Tackling unauthorised travellers

camps - a row breaks out between Aberdeen Council and the police over

how to deal with them. The UK Government warns that energy

bills will rise in an independent Scotland but the Scottish Government

says they're just scaremongering. On the eve of the Masters, we speak

to Scots golfer Stephen Gallacher about his chances in the season's

first major. And Hagrid goes back to school but

it's not Hogwarts. I am so honoured. Former student Robbie

Coltrane opens Glasgow's School of Art's new ?50 million building.

Good evening. A murder inquiry has been launched in Glasgow after a

woman was found dead and her elderly partner was seriously injured. The

body of Isabelle Sanders was found in her home by police in the

Crookston area of the city, early this morning. Police are looking for

a third person, believed to be an intruder in the house. Julie Peacock

reports. In the early hours of this morning, Isabelle Sanders was

murdered in her own home by an apparent stranger. It was just

before 2am that police were called this quiet cul-de-sac after reports

of the man in the house. When they got here, she was dead and her

85-year-old partner was seriously injured. Police say this was a

violent attack. But people shouldn't be alarmed. It is very unusual

circumstances surrounding this incident. We have additional

officers on patrol. We have a full team of detectives working

tirelessly on this case who will not stop working until we get the person

responsible. Isabelle Sanders's partner has been speaking from his

hospital bed. They say he is devastated by what has happened.

Officers have closely examined the couple's home and searched the

surrounding areas for any clue. The couple's car was taken away this

afternoon by forensic teams. But police say the key to resolving this

would lie with a member of the public. They are hoping someone saw

something that will help them catch the killer.

Julie is outside the house now. Julie, what more can you tell us?

Neighbours here have been telling us how shocked and upset they have

been. This is a very quiet and a very safe residential area. Isabelle

Sanders and her partner had been nipping here for 24 years and police

say they have no idea why the couple were targeted. They have released a

description of the man seen in the house. They say he is aged between

20 and 30, he is white and speaks with a local Scottish accent. They

ask that anyone who knows who he is or who may have seen him last night

to contact them as soon as possible. An Aberdeen councillor claims that

police are not doing enough to move travellers on from sites in the

city. It's estimated nearly 90 caravans are currently in Aberdeen,

including a large encampment near the beach. The council want a by-law

to give them powers to remove travellers from unauthorised sites.

We want the police to look at the problems we have had in Aberdeen

over the last four years and help us address them. They must address

this. They have the criminal power were, we have the civil power and it

would appear to me that there is criminal activity taking place, that

falls within the police, not the council.

Our reporter Stephen Duff has been following this row and joins us now

from the travellers' site. Stephen, what have the police said about

these claims that not enough is being done to deal with travellers

in Aberdeen? The man in charge of policing Aberdeen say his officers

do deal robustly with situations when they arrive, including with

criminal damage, that sort of thing. But the particular problem at

this time of year is the influx of travelling people because of the

lucrative nature of the summer work there is in the Aberdeen and

north-east area. The City Council want by law to deal with situations

here. There are 40 caravans pitched up illegally here. The travellers

will move onto another site and the thing starts again. The Chief

Superintendent says it is a Compaq issue, including needing to find the

designated site for travellers to pitch up. -- a complex issue. It is

a complex and emotive issue. We have to take a balanced approach. If you

look at longer-term sustainable solutions, nothing has changed, it

is all about giving them somewhere to stay. If there is evidence of

criminality, we will look at it. Aberdeen thinks it has a particular

problem but this one the unusual around Scotland. -- but this won't

be unusual around Scotland. It is about creating a balance between the

rights of the settled community and the rights of the travelling

community. You're watching Reporting Scotland

from the BBC. Still to come on tonight's programme: Hagrid goes

back to school as former student Robbie Coltrane opens Glasgow school

of Arts's new building. In sport, we'll hear from Scotland's

top golfer on the eve of his US masters debut in Augusta. And as the

diggers move into Murrayfield, the man at the top of Scottish rugby

says winning the world cup is not impossible. Details later.

Two competing visions of Scotland's energy sector under independence

have been put forward this week. The UK Government warned today that fuel

bills could rise north of the border if Scotland fails to get a deal to

share its energy market with the rest of the UK. But in their plan,

published on Monday, the Scottish Government say England and Wales

need Scottish supply to keep the lights on down south. Our business

and economy editor Douglas Fraser has more. As dirty old coal burners

are retired, the winds of change are already blogging through the elected

city market. There are international obligations for Scotland and Britain

to boost green power. Biggest investments are intended to take

power from when the wind blows to big cities and when the wind drops,

to draw from nuclear and gas plants in the south, there are other

options, Powell could be traded with other neighbours, using cheap solar

power, for examples. All that need subsidy. We already pay through our

bills but how would that work if Scotland were independent? Did UK

Government says there would be no longer support from the bill payers

in British homes, instead relying on Scottish households. It says that

would cause -- push costs up by as much as ?189 in each home each year.

Of course we would want to trade with Scotland and work with them, of

course we would. But the point is that as a separate country, we would

have other countries that we could turn to as well. We could turn to

Ireland, France. The Scottish Government says many of the costs in

cleaning up nuclear energy could be avoided in the nuclear -- an

independent Scotland. But they say England and Wales would need the

Scots green power to pluck the energy gap. in England, following

independence, Scottish atrocity will continue to be exported and will be

required to let the lights be kept on. -- Scottish electricity. I think

the Scottish independence issue is an important part but one of many

issues we face at the moment. Investors are seeing Britain is a

high political risk, in terms of money for energy, because of the Ed

Miliband price freeze and the general consumer anger and political

anger around rising energy prices. Scotland has a lot of oil and gas

and a lot of renewable power, too. This is a crucial part of the case

for independence but harnessing the power is far from simple and far

from cheap. Who pays for it, how they pay for it, it is full of

difficult political choices, with a without independence.

A court in Edinburgh has heard the details of teenager Elaine Doyle's

final night before she was murdered in 1986. Her best friend spoke about

their trip to a local disco in Greenock. 49-year-old John Docherty

denies murdering Elaine. When this woman was 17, Elaine Doyle was her

best friend. On Sunday the 1st of June 1986, chic, Elaine and two

other girls went to a disco at the club in Greenock. They had a dance

and a couple of drinks. When the disco ended, they went to a burger

stall in the centre. Elaine had earlier found her mum and dad saying

she would be home by the back of the midnight session. She asked Elaine

if she would stay at her house but Elaine said, no, and her last words

to her best friend work, OK, I will see you two morrow. The woman was

shown an artists impression of the suspect at the time. She said he

looked like Francis McCurdy, who had become her husband. He is one of 41

tested who the accused says could have been the killer. The trial here

at the High Court continues. The oil and gas industry has raised

serious concerns about new helicopter safety rules, which are

due to be introduced later this year. The Civil Aviation Authority

demanded several reforms including changes to seating, restrictions on

passenger size, and new flotation measures. Oil and Gas UK is warning

that the June deadline for implementing the changes is

ambitious, and says it could affect safety. The CAA says its proposals

are realistic and achievable. Whether an independent Scotland

would be a member of the European Union has been hotly debated in the

referendum campaign. But as the argument rages here, what resonance

does it have in the rest of Europe? Do they even know about it? And how

do they view us? Our political editor Brian Taylor took to the

streets of Brussels to find out. So, famous Belgians all but his Brussels

-- Brussels famous for question -- famous for? In this cosmopolitan

city, the European capital is the issue of Scottish independence on

the menu? Two I have heard that Scotland have a vote to gain

independence. There is a referendum in September. Let's try elsewhere.

Let's try in here. Here, you will find what Brussels is really famous

for. Cartoons. This is the comicstrip Museum. Have the visitors

here heard of Scotland's referendum? No, nothing at all. OK. Ported. But

let's try again. You were the first country in Europe but there are many

countries that are thinking about this problem. There is now a

tendency to drift off. In addition to do question of independence, the

status of Scotland and currency. For some here in Brussels, the Scot dish

question seems pretty remote. But we also spoke to many who were in

caged, some deeply engaged in the question that is at stake in the

September referendum so just as the European Union is an issue in that

referendum, it seems the issue itself is on the agenda here in the

capital? A campaign is gathering steam in the

far north of Scotland for the area to be given its own, unique

postcode. At present, Caithness and parts of Sutherland share the same

postcode as Orkney. And residents on the mainland claim that's proving a

major disadvantage. Craig Anderson explains. Out there, across just a

few miles of the Pentland Firth, lie the Orkney Islands.

Today, obscured by a thick sea mist. Orkney has a kilowatts postcode.

Kilowatts for Kirkwall. But so does Caithness here on the mainland and

part of north Sutherland as well. Residents here in mainland Scotland

say that island postcode is causing a fog of confusion.

They are either told they will not deliver in some cases or the price

they are offering is so high that they obviously don't want to

deliver. They say they will not deliver to islands. You get that

sort of comment sometimes. Not everyone agrees that a change in

the postcode would be beneficial, but shoppers we spoke to in Thurso

were certainly in favour. I've got to go to the post office

all the time to find where my mail is and it's inconvenient. It would

be helpful if we had our own postcode. I think they think we live

in Orkney. I've had a bit of trouble when I have been phoning people,

they insist we are in Orkney, that sort of thing. It puts it in a

different price category. The campaign has now reached the

Scottish Parliament. People in Caithness have had

problems with the postcode. Not so much for mail delivery, but for all

the other organisations that use postcodes to tell us where someone

is and what services they are going to get. We have seen that with the

post office closure, temporary closure in Thurso where people were

being told to go to Orkney to get their post office services.

Royal Mail says postcodes are changed only in exceptional

circumstances. Many in the far north reckon it is time for postal chiefs

to deliver. A look now at other stories from

around Scotland today. The Conservative Scotland Office

minister David Mundell has suggested that Commonwealth Games organisers

should reconsider the decision to demolish the Red Road flats as part

of the opening ceremony. Talks are to be held next week over the

controversial plan. More than 13,000 people have signed an online

petition calling for it to be dropped. Opponents believe the

towers should be brought down with dignity and not as an entertainment

spectacle. Police in the Highlands have been

been conducting searches in farms where 19 birds of prey have been

found dead. The raptors, including red kites and buzzards, have been

found near Conan Bridge over the past two weeks. Tests have confirmed

some had been poisoned. A reward for information about the deaths has

increased to ?25,000 after a ?12,000 donation from farmers and

landowners. Parents are being urged to make sure

their children aren't playing on the railways. British Transport Police

say the Easter school break and lighter nights usually lead to an

increase in youngsters straying on to the tracks.

Creative Scotland has launched a simpler funding structure and a

ten-year plan after complaints that the body was too complicated and

bureaucratic. The move follows extensive consultation around the

country. That was sparked by a public row about funding, which

resulted in the resignation of the previous chief executive.

Parents are being consulted on plans to extend school summer holidays by

a week. The proposals for Edinburgh schools would mean cutting the

Christmas break to 12 days. The City Council plans would come into effect

in 2015. Time for tonight's sport. Lots of

armchair viewing for golf fans over the next few days, David.

Yes, especially because Scots golfer Stephen Gallacher makes his Masters

debut tomorrow. He'll tee off with the former Open champion Darren

Clarke and the American Nick Watney. And as Jonathan Sutherland reports,

Gallacher's been picking up some new tricks from an old Master.

They say that experience is key at Augusta. But daring to dream of

victory is permissible for Stephen Gallacher at his first Masters. You

will be joining with all the names that have warned that it -- but have

won it, or the golfing greats. To be a part of that would be phenomenal.

I'm trying to get some experience from past winners.

a part of that would be phenomenal. I'm trying to get

What better way to practice than without them Scott who won the

Masters. I spoke with Sandy Lyle on Saturday. He has won it, and nearly

won it a couple of other times. Tiger Woods has been a fixture at

the Masters for the last 20 years, but he will not be there this year

because of back surgery. It is a shame he is not here. You

want the best players playing. Even with him out the field, the

favourites are all bunched up. It will be an exciting tournament.

Winning the Masters would be something worth writing home about

four gala her. -- for Gallacher. The man at the top of Scottish Rugby

is urging the country to keep the faith when it comes to the

struggling national side. Despite a poor Six Nations campaign, the SRU

chief executive Mark Dodson won't waver from the view that Scotland

becoming world champions next year is not an impossible target. He also

says the game here has never been better off financially.

We do not want to be in a position where we have a target that we

believe is impossible. We have a new coach coming in, games that are

meaningful and we believe we can develop a team that can compete.

We have got the union in better financial shape, we have doubled

commercial income, we have put teams onto a better financial future. --

better financial footing. Anybody that wants to put money into

Scottish rugby, in whatever shape of forum, I am happy to talk to. But

the level of money required, when we find that out, you usually find they

are not as interested as they once were.

Keep the faith. We have got a new coach coming in, we have got bigger

and deeper squad, we have players with real talent, we will see our

plans coming to fruition. We will deliver a competitive team.

Celtic's Leigh Griffiths is accused of bringing football into disrepute

by the SFA for singing songs of an offensive, racist and/or

discriminatory nature. The former Hibs player was already charged with

not acting in the best interests of the game after being filmed singing

about Hearts financial problems. The new charge relates to footage

appearing to show him singing about former Hearts player Rudi Skacel.

Now, a look at what else is happening across Scottish sport.

Andy Murray says he won't rush into appointing a new coach. He has been

without one since parting company with Ivan Lendl last month. But the

Scot says the new man needn't be a grand slam winner himself. He needs

to be the right fit for you and what you need and also gets on well with

the team. Otherwise, it's very hard to make it work. But we shall see.

Ahead of St Johnstone's Scottish Cup semi against Aberdeen on Sunday the

Perth club's manager isn't just confident his team can win the

match, he thinks they can win the cup for the first time.

We believe that we can achieve something really outstanding this

year. We are 180 minutes away from creating a bit of history at the

club. Scotland womens' captain Gemma Fay

expects Bosnia to provide stuffy opposition in the world cup

qualifier tomorrow. The Scots beat them 7-0 at home and top their group

after four matches. Third division Albion Rovers are

letting supporters pay what they like for season tickets next term.

Maybe these fans can use their spare cash to buy clothes to wear to

matches. More on the Masters golf plus all

the breaking stories on the BBC Sports Scotland website.

That is all for now. The actor Robbie Coltrane has

officially opened Glasgow School of Art's new building. The actor

studied at the school in the 1960s. Both he and the writer and

broadcaster Muriel Gray were among a number of former students who were

at the opening of the ?50 million complex today. They talked to our

arts correspondent Pauline McLean. In the competition to have this,

what a daunting task. You have to design a building... How did that

work? It was an international competition, can you imagine how

terrifying that would be, facing one of the world's best buildings? How

did you choose it? What were his drawings like? Another day. One of

the things he said in his final interview, he said this is how my

building will look from the Macintosh, not the other way around.

It is a massively inspiring building. Riyadh in bits. Yes, a

little bit over come. I said in my speech, all my painting

tutors, long dead, they will be birling in their graves at me being

back to open it. Liz Lochhead brought the wonderful opening words.

-- wrote. These are all people who have been

to art school and to think in different ways. Liz and I used to

read poetry to the students at lunchtime... As a punishment? If you

read the Glasgow Herald from 1992 Alistair and Morag, is it just me or

is not a line in the place? -- 1909. And we are not finished yet. We are

developing the campus to make Glasgow School of Art at 21st in the

icon of learning. And we're here, and we venture! Gillian is here.

The next few days look quite nice, but some rain for this evening.

There is a lot of cloud genitally tonight. It has been producing

outbreaks of rain, mainly in the north-west. That is tied to a

weather front of the north-west Highlands. Temperatures holding

around seven Celsius for most of us. In the North, clearer and cold in

current -- colder conditions. We will start to see showers driven in

on brisk, westerly winds. It will stay windy tomorrow in the

Northwest. For most of the country, cloudy and damp start. But in the

afternoon, dry and bright weather with no spells of sunshine. For the

afternoon, those showers across the North will become more widespread.

Some of them could be heavy and bring some snow to the hills. The

odd shower for the Glasgow area, but mostly dry, feeling present in that

sunshine. For the rest of the afternoon towards evening, we keep

the show was going across the North. It will become mainly dry across

most of the country and chilly under clear skies. First Lady, this ridge

of high pressure will build, bringing a settled the with dry

weather, some sunshine, but always a few showers lurking in the

Northwest. Cloud will start to increase later on Friday, linked to

this weather front which will push across the country on Saturday. It

will bring outbreaks of rain in the morning, and gusty westerly winds.

Now, a reminder of tonight's main news. A murder inquiry has been

launched in Glasgow after a woman was found dead and her elderly

partner was seriously injured. The body of Isabelle Sanders was found

in her home by police in the Crookston area of the city, early

this morning. Police are looking for a third person, believed to be an

intruder in the house. And the Culture Secretary Maria

Miller has resigned from the Cabinet.

And that's all from Reporting Scotland for now. I'll be back with

the headlines