A JUDGE has described a near two-hour delay to a murder trial as "outrageous" after a red-tape blunder by security firm G4S.
Lord Uist's comments came after G4S failed to complete the correct forms to have Asif Rehman, 20, and Adel Ishaq, 19, who are accused of killing Irish-born William McKeeney, 57, in Pollokshields, Glasgow, brought from Polmont Young Offenders Institution.
G4S has come under fire for the staffing crisis that saw the armed forces being drafted in during the London Olympics.
The judge demanded an explanation from G4S and said: "It is outrageous that one hour and fifty minutes of court and public time has been lost."
When the trial began at the High Court in Kilmarnock, jurors heard Mr McKeeney's final words were captured on the mobile phone of one of two men accused of killing him.
Mr McKeeney, who was kicked and stamped to death, said: "Is there a problem here, lads? What's the problem?" The court heard one of his alleged murderers then took the phone and said Mr McKeeney had just been "splattered".
Witness Imran Khan, 19, said he had a call from a friend called Noddy, nickname of his friend Ishaq.
Mr Khan added he heard a voice he recognised as Mr McKeeney's, a neighbour in Pollokshields.
Rehman and Ishaq, both prisoners, deny the racially aggravated murder of Mr McKeeney and showing previous malice and ill-will towards him.
G4S said they will provide the court and judge with a full explanation. The trial continues.
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