The impact on local policing created by the high-profile investigation into the alleged murder of Steven Donaldson, which saw part of rural Angus in complete lockdown, has been outlined in a report by the divisional commander for Tayside.
The discovery of the 27-year-old oil worker’s body in the early hours of June 7 at a beauty spot on the outskirts of Kirriemuir prompted a no-fly zone to be introduced above a nature reserve.
The area was surrounded by police officers as road blocks were set up following the discovery of the Arbroath man’s body in the car park at the RSPB Loch of Kinnordy nature reserve in the early hours of Thursday June 7.
The following day the police launched a murder inquiry, claiming Donaldson was the victim of a “brutal and sustained” attack with a sharp, heavy weapon.
Members of Angus Council’s scrutiny and audit committee were addressed by Chief Superintendent Paul Anderson when they met in Forfar.
In his quarterly report on the local policing plan covering April 1 to June 30, he referred to the demand on the service during the murder investigation.
He said: “During the month of June there was a considerable local and national commitment to the investigation.
“This incident had a considerable community impact, not just in Kirriemuir but across Angus.
“It was resource-intensive. There have been charges, the accused remain in custody and I am delighted with the progress.”
Officers stood guard outside two residential properties in Kirriemuir as the police investigation unfolded.
They reviewed CCTV footage and carried out house to house enquiries, as well as speaking to motorists on the B951 which runs past the reserve.
Tasmin Glass, 19, Callum Davidson, 23 and Steven Dickie, also 23, all from Kirriemuir, made two appearances in private on petition at Forfar Sheriff Court in connection to the death.
It is alleged the trio arranged to meet Mr Donaldson at the Peter Pan Play Park in Kirriemuir before repeatedly striking him on the leg and body with a knife or similar instrument and striking him on the head with an “unknown heavy bladed instrument”.
They are then said to have transported him to the Loch of Kinnordy Nature Reserve where prosecutors say they continued to assault him by repeatedly striking him on the head and body with a knife.
It is alleged they then set fire to Mr Donaldson’s BMW car and Mr Donaldson himself and murdered him.
Davidson and Dickie also faced charges of breach of the peace while Davidson faced an additional charge of assault.
All three made no plea to the charges, were committed for trial and remanded in custody.
A date for a preliminary hearing has still to be set.
Glass, who faces a single charge of murder, appealed against remand.
Her bail appeal was heard at the Sheriff Appeal Court in Edinburgh but was refused.
