Michael Ross begins appeal against Orkney murder conviction

Michael Ross was found guilty of the murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood

A man jailed for the murder of a waiter on Orkney has begun an appeal against his conviction.

Former Black Watch sniper Michael Ross was 15 when Shamsuddin Mahmood, 26, was shot in the head in Kirkwall's Mumataz Restaurant in June 1994.

He was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years after being found guilty in 2008.

Mr Mahmood, born in Bangladesh, was shot in full view of a room full of diners, including families with children, by a masked gunman.

The appeal - which is expected to last about four days - is before three judges in Edinburgh.

Arguments by his counsel, Maggie Scott QC, include that the original trial judge misdirected the jury.