Man charged with murder of Balbeggie jeweller Alan Gardner

A 30-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a Balbeggie jeweller and trying to bury his body in a Perthshire woodland.

Nikola Zhulev, South Street, Perth, appeared on petition at Perth Sheriff Court today accused of murdering 49-year-old Alan Gardner at his Balbeggie home.

The body of Mr Gardner was found at an address on Croft Park, Balbeggie, on Thursday April 23.

Zhulev was charged with, between April 19 and April 23, at an address in Croft Park, Balbeggie, assaulting Alan Gardner by striking him on the head with a metal pan or other implement, or by other means unknown to the prosecutor.

It was also alleged that he bound Mr Gardner’s ankles with tape, then covered and wrapped his body in a duvet, having murdered him.

He was also charged with purchasing a spade at Homebase, St Catherine’s Retail Park, Perth, and digging a hole in the ground of the wooded area of the unclassified road at St. Martins, Guildtown, Perthshire, with the intention of concealing the body of Alan Gardner, sometime between April 19 and 23.

Appearing in private, Zhulev made no plea or declaration. The case was committed for further examination and he was remanded in custody.