13/04/2016 Reporting Scotland

That's all from the BBC News at Six - so it's goodbye from me -

A pathologist tells a murder trial that 2-year-old Liam Fee suffered

a catalogue of injuries before he died.

Hundreds of pupils return to class in Edinburgh after their schools

It's good just to get back into a routine but obviously we're

concerned. We've got sense we don't really know how safe the building

is. It's disruptive for the kids. And childcare.

Also on the programme, The Scottish Conservatives

launch their manifesto saying they'll replace Labour as the main

And the sonar images that reveal something monstrous lurking

A pathologist has described a catalogue of injuries on the body

of a two year old who died at a house in Fife.

He told a murder trial Liam Fee probably died when his heart

Liam's mother and partner deny killing him.

Viewers may find some of the details in Joanne Macaulay's report

A postmortem on Liam Fee was carried out two days after his death when he

was living at this house near Glenrothes. Today the pathologist in

charge, Doctor Paul French, Glenrothes. Today the pathologist in

described multiple external and internal injuries to his body.

Doctor French told the court the injuries were the result of the

usual rough-and-tumble of a toddler, but caused by blunt force trauma.

There were numerous bruises and abrasions on his body and internally

there was evidence of a ruptured in testing, which Doctor French agreed

would have caused obvious pain. Liam also had a fractured upper arm and

leg. Prosecutors Alex Prentice asked about the broken thigh bone. Would

it be painful for Liam? Yes, said the pathologist Doctor French. Would

it be paying for all the time? Yes. The trial judge, Lord Burns, asked,

could you bear weight on it which Doctor French replied, yes, but it

would be extraordinarily painful. He would have been crying, distressed

and upset. Doctor French said it was most likely Liam was killed by a

blow or blows to the torso, which caused the child's hard to rupture

and bleed, leading to rapid death. Rachel Fee and her partner and I

only Fee deny murdering Liam and harming two other boys. -- Naomi and

accused of sexually and physically abusing boys who were in their care

at the St Ninians School in Falkland in Fife in the 1970s and 80s.

In total they face 121 charges of abusing 35 pupils

who were aged from eleven years old to sixteen.

Most of the allegations concern seventy three year old John Farrell

All the men deny the charges against them.

A man has appeared in court charged with murder after the death of a man

Shahzad Shah, who was 56, died following an incident

at an Indian takeaway in Mintlaw on Monday.

Hidayet Ozden, who was 52, of Falkirk, appeared

at Peterhead Sheriff Court charged with murder and assault.

He made no plea or declaration and was remanded in custody.

Practical exams due to be held this week have been cancelled

or postponed at the five Edinburgh high schools affected

Six of the 17 affected schools partially reopened this

morning but almost 5000 pupils were off for a third day.

The impact of the disruption is being felt across the city -

some small businesses are being hit; one foodbank's offering help

a delayed first day back and not at their usual school. Stuff up there

to meet you. Hundreds of grace my pupils are now at Liberton, other

schools taking in extra pupils, making temporary classrooms where

possible. Practical elements of exams at the five affected high

schools will not go ahead as planned this week. We've now been in

constructive dialogue with the Scottish qualifications authority,

who have knocked back the deadlines for some of the work that needs to

be submitted from this week to next week, and beyond, if required.

Across town, two primary is affected were able to resume classes. The

extra days of Easter holiday clearly welcomed by some. We went to the

extra days of Easter holiday clearly cinema with our friends together and

it was lots of fun. You are not going to your own school, you are

moving elsewhere. Just a little bit. Faults have been found here. Parents

moving elsewhere. Just a little bit. remain anxious. We have concerns

they'll be out of the building for a long time. We have concerns we don't

know how safe the building is. If they found two things already, what

else could be wrong? Some peoples are being bussed to temporary

classes around the city. Others still waiting to hear on the final

arrangements for them, so all schools can have some kind of

teaching provision restored by next Tuesday at the latest. Over the last

few days... Some families have been approaching food banks for help

because of school closures. Before they came in looking for tinned

beans, veg, meals. They struggled to budget off the back of an Easter

beans, veg, meals. They struggled to holiday, coming into another week of

holidays that they didn't know what was going to happen. We want to put

across we will help support them through a difficult time. Dance

class is cancelled, prompting concerns children are missing out.

With further disruption ahead, many small businesses are counting the

cost. We have a large team over 30 freelance dance teachers. If they

don't work they don't get paid and if we're not getting paid we can't

afford to pay them. Questions about about the construction, contract and

potential compensation claims. Though most pupils now know where

and when they will get back behind desks, there is no indication when

the disruption will end. A memorial service has been held for an

Aberdeenshire man who police believe was murdered in his home.

67 year old Brian McKandie was found beaten to death with a "heavy

weapon" in his home in Rothienorman on the 12th of March.

More than 100 family and friends gathered

at Auchterless Church this morning to pay tribute to Mr McKandie,

who was described as a private, gentle man.

The Scottish Conservatives say they're out to overhaul Labour

and replace them as the main opposition to the SNP at Holyrood.

Launching their manifesto, the party leader, Ruth Davidson,

forecast voters will turn to the Tories because of their

pledges to hold down tax and defend the Union.

She promised an end to "Project Fear" -

the negative campaigning which featured in the

This from our political editor Brian Taylor.

This is not, said Ruth Davidson, a normal election. She expects the SNP

to win and is campaigning to come second. To lead the opposition. Her

big pitch, to defend the union positively. The case for

independence is dead. The case for the union must now be made. The

Conservatives would scrap the named person scheme monitoring each child.

On energy they are broke clear and pro-fracking. They would freeze

business rate and the Scottish income tax the same. -- pro-nuclear.

They would raise money, they would face in production charges for those

who can page. They would charge graduates up to ?6,000 after they

are earning 20,000. Ending the council tax freeze, capping

are earning 20,000. Ending the increases at 3%. The considered a

a renewed focus on mental health. They promise more freedom for

schools with extra cash for colleges. And they promised to build

schools with extra cash for 100,000 new homes with energy

efficiency measures to make them warmer. Tactically, their Hollywood

aim is to overhaul Labour as the main opposition to the SNP. I can

read a poll as well as anyone and if we're looking to have surged MSM

because from that we choose not to choose the government, let's change

the opposition because something in Scotland needs to change. I can be

the strong opposition people need that can hold the Scottish

Government to account, to challenge, scrutinise, make sure they are put

under the pressure that they haven't been in the last nine years and that

we need them to be to have better government and better legislation

coming out of Scottish Parliament. The strategy, to attract all those

who said no to independence, to convince them to be unionist and

Conservative. Elsewhere in the election campaign,

the parties have been Analysis by the left-leaning

think-tank - the IPPR - suggests Labour's planning to raise

more from income tax Here's our political correspondent,

Glenn Campbell. The tax you pay and the services

your taxes pay for our two of the biggest issues in this Hollywood

election campaign. If you are working and earning over a certain

amount, you are obliged to pay income tax. And from next year it'll

be Hollywood that is in charge of setting rates and bands. Exactly how

much you pay will depend on which party or parties form the next

Scottish Government. So how do the party 's plans differ? Because the

Conservatives want to match UK income tax, they would not generate

any additional revenue. At their manifesto event in Glasgow, the

Tories are happy with that. What we're seeing is those parties who

favour a high tax, labour, ?1.2 billion of extra tax from

hard-working Scots, the SNP hundreds of millions, the Conservatives

position is very clear. Nobody in Scotland to be paying more tax than

anybody else in the United Kingdom. anybody else in the United Kingdom.

-- nobody should be paying. The plan anybody else in the United Kingdom.

to freeze income tax rates and a tax cut for those paying the 40p rate

would bring in an extra ?300 million a year by 2020. In East Kilbride the

SNP leader thinks her party is playing fair. The SNP is putting

forward income tax plans at this election that are fair, balanced and

progressive. They ask those on the highest incomes to bear more of the

burden, I think that's right, it would be wrong to give a big tax cut

to people on high rate incomes. The Liberal Democrats penny on income

tax rates would raise ?750 Liberal Democrats penny on income

more than UK plans according to the IPPR think tank analysis. On the

coast of Fifa, the Lib Dem leader is clinging to the conviction voters

are -- Fife. When they know they will

get Scottish education back to being the best in the world again, I think

people will make that small sacrifice. The Greens new rates and

bands, cutting tax for low earners, raising it for the better off, could

generate between 600 and ?950 million extra. The Greens say they

are also trying to redistribute wealth. It looks like we're doing

more to support the lowest paid and fighting inequality is a

more to support the lowest paid and ported part of what tax is for, it's

not just about raising money but about making a more equal society.

I'm really proud of the tax plans we've got. Labour's penny on income

tax with a new 50p top rate is expected to bring in an additional

1.1- ?1.2 billion in income tax. Cash the Labour leader says can be

used to reverse the cycle of cuts. We can stop the cuts, stop the cuts

to classroom assistants, teachers, community centres and libraries.

These are affecting the very fabric of our communities, it doesn't have

to be this way, we can use the powers of Parliament to make

different choices from the Tories. When it comes to tax and spend, all

parties are not the same. BBC Scotland has announced

its second televised It will take place on the first

of May at Hopetoun House in South Queensferry and will be

chaired by Sarah Smith. If you want to be part

of the audience and put your questions to the leaders

of Scotland's political parties, Details are on the Reporting

Scotland web page. There's been a warning that last

ditch efforts to save the Scottish wildcat from extinction are at risk,

because of conflict between rival It comes after one organisation,

Wildcat Haven, revealed what it claims to be "barbaric" plans

to allow gamekeepers to shoot feral Our environment correspondent,

David Miller, reports. The Scottish wildcat. It's rare and

at risk. The focus of intense efforts by conservationists working

to ensure its survival. One of the biggest threats, crossbreeding with

domestic cats. This application for trapping license released under

Freedom information rules states... Any individuals which are obviously

feral domestic cats will be dispatched. In one shot at with an

all-time to death. Wildcat Haven says it is barbaric and unnecessary.

But in response the Royals are logical Society of Scotland, which

made the application, has accused the group of using underhand and

distorting ploys to mislead the public. Since time in Memorial,

landowners have been killing feral cats, Wildcats, by shooting. What we

are advocating is to use cage trapping, so there is far less risk

of Wildcats actually being shocked. Neutering of feral cats is seen as

an important and humane way to Neutering of feral cats is seen as

prevent crossbreeding. With only a tiny population of Wildcats

remaining, is it enough? D conservation breeding is also really

important as well as detecting the habitat and making sure there is

sufficient habitat for Wildcats. And preventing any accidental

persecution. It is a many pronged approach which requires a team

effort and sustained effort over many years. David Miller, reporting

Scotland. The Hearts legend John Robertson

says the club's season has exceeded His commensts come after

the Tynecastle side secured a European spot last night

with a draw against Inverness. In 2013 the club faced financial

ruin and then adminsitration. Our senior Football Reporter Chris

Mclaughlin has the story Hearts seeing of locomotive like

65-1 in one of the famous European nights at Tynecastle. -- locomotive

Leipzig. Strange to think that match was right here 40 years ago. Much

has changed. In the process, this club has experienced huge highs and

incredible lows. But against all of the odds the European nights are

back. This was the scene less than three years ago. The administrators

moved in following financial meltdown. It's to make sure the club

is saved. Redundancies followed and the club almost folded. If somebody

had said two years ago... You would have said, we'll take that, we could

still be in charge. If somebody said right now, you could be sitting

mid-table in the championship and playing in front of crowds of

mid-table in the championship and seven 8000, you would have taken it

because it was about keeping the club alive. The relegation that

followed administration proved to be a blip. After a buyout part funded

by fans, they bounced straight back up and will now third at least. On

social media once a border said it exceeded expectation for sure.

Another said top six would have been amazing for more than exceeded. Paul

Wood said, fantastic achievement by Hearts and their fans. Off the pitch

it equally as impressive. Build and they will come. This, the plans for

their new main stand. The future seems bright. Hearts are back from

the brink and heading for Europe. The Hibs chief executive

Leanne Dempster says manager Alan Stubbs is under no pressure

this season, as she hopes to have him 'for the long haul',

despite Hibs failing to close the gap on second placed

Falkirk last night Top scorer Jason Cummings

gave the Easter Road But, despite being down to 10 men,

Falkirk scored twice in the final three minutes through captain

Dave McCracken and this We are here for the long game, we

look forward to that. Alan and our team and coaches have not become

managers overnight, that has not happened, we remind everyone that we

are in the Scottish cup semifinal, we got to the League Cup final and

can get promoted this season. Double Commonwealth swimming

champion Hannah Miley has qualified She won the 400 metres individual

medley at the British trials in Glasgow last night,

under the Olympic qualifying time, to seal her place on the plane

to Rio this summer. It's exciting times, I did not

really know how it was going to go in the final, I just had to stick to

my game plan, race those around me and I was happy with the time. I had

to stay assistant and patient, I have full faith in the programme and

my coach, I trust totally what he's doing. The start of the season might

not have been great but it has allowed me to peak at the right

times. Well done to her, she is great.

Researchers and engineers scouring Loch Ness for evidence

of Nessie have this week made a dramatic discovery.

But as Craig Anderson reports, it's not quite the one

It is one of the strangest creatures to emerge from the murky waters of

the world-famous Loch Ness, no humps and no dinosaur head, instead and

aquatic robot costing two and a half million dollars equipped with the

best sonar scanning technology money can buy. Every expedition which

comes here claims to have the most sophisticated piece of equipment

that exists and in some cases that's true but in this case it is very,

very true. Already the probe has provided the best ever images of the

bid and sidewalls of the depths of provided the best ever images of the

Loch Ness. But she has also discovered a monster, albeit a

massive model which sank in 1969 during the filming of a Sherlock

Holmes movie starring Christopher Lee. In that film they had a large

prop with tanks below, they tore it out and would flood the tanks to get

the level right and you had a beautiful Loch Ness Monster.

Unfortunately they lost control of it, the tanks started to flood and

they had to cut her free. That happened about one kilometre from

here and she has been lost ever since. Few experts believe this is a

watery Jurassic Park and don't expect to spot the prehistoric

plesiosaurs in the depths but are keen to investigate why so many

apparently do. Those behind the project believe that already they

have disproved the theory that there is a deep trench in the lock, the

layer of messy as it has been described. But just proving the

altogether a tougher nut to crack. altogether a tougher nut to crack.

-- the existence of Nessie herself. What might have been, let's get the

weather. Good evening, fairly disappointing

day of weather for most of us today, an area of rain plaguing much of

East and South Eastern Scotland. This evening stays rather cloudy for

most of us, the rain will continue to ease however. We will hold onto

some light and patchy rain across the South East as we head to the

overnight period and one or two showers, generally it is drying up

process, fairly cloudy but there will be clear spells across the

North which might result in a touch of frost for some sheltered areas.

Into tomorrow we have a weak ridge of high pressure which introduces

largely dry, settled conditions and there will be some brightness and

sunshine around as we go through the there will be some brightness and

course of the day. Taking a closer look at the weather tomorrow

afternoon around 4pm we are optimistic we will see some

brightness and sunshine across the Western Isles, the likes of the

north-west Highlands and the great claim area, some brightness to and

sunshine likely for many of us tomorrow, it will peek through that

cloud at times. Highs of around 12 or 13 Celsius, any brightness and

sunshine, a few showers it won't feel too bad at all. Into the

evening there will be brightness, sunshine during the day, an area of

rain moving across Shetland and into the far north of Scotland into

tomorrow night and that continues to trundle its way south worst as we

head into Friday morning, behind at a plunge of cold air, so by Friday

morning even lower levels across the Grampian area may well see some

wintry showers. That band of rain continues its journey south as we go

through Friday, I gain some snow continues its journey south as we go

over the hills and high ground in the south, behind it drier and

brighter, although feeling called with the biting northerly wind.

Any sign of spring coming back? Not a chance! That it from reporting

Scotland, from everyone, enjoy the rest of your evening.