Acid attack verdict, statement from Russell Findlay

I greatly appreciate the professionalism of Detective Sergeant Craig Warren, his Police Scotland colleagues and the NHS staff who treated my injuries along with extraordinary support from friends, fellow journalists and family.

Having apprehended William ‘Basil’ Burns and handed him over to the police on 23 December 2015, today’s verdict was long overdue and the only possible outcome.

Burns is a coward who was paid a significant sum of money to come to my home disguised as a postman, throw sulphuric acid in my face and attempt to stab me on the orders of a major organised criminal who is in prison for another matter.

This man should be held to account, but I have concerns about Police Scotland and the Crown Office choosing not to conduct any meaningful investigation into his role.

In due course, I intend to provide a full account of these concerns and others relating to the criminal justice system - not least the Crown’s decision to prosecute the acid attack alongside the Ross Sherlock school shooting; disgusting lies told in court during the defence of Burns and his early release from a 15-year prison sentence for shooting an innocent woman.

First published by Russell Findlay on June 26, 2017

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Russell Findlay is an investigations journalist reporting on law, politics, health, business and crime. He is also the author of non-fiction books. A fter 25 years with various newspapers he can now be found at STV News

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Russell Findlay - @RussellFindlay1

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