Man charged after cartel style murder in Glasgow park

Police have said a 42 year old man named Jude McPhie has been charged with murder of man whose charred remains were found in Glasgow park fire.

A murder investigation was launched after the remains were found.

William had been recently been cleared of a series of sexual assaults.

Dogwalkers found the body of William Leiper, 31, at the site of a fire near a kids’ play area in Glasgow’s Househill Park on August 4.

His remains were discovered in Pollok’s Househill Park at around 7.35am on Wednesday, August 4, by a member of the public.

He had his fingertips hacked off and was so badly injured that initial post-mortem examinations failed to find a cause of death.

Detectives believe he was the target of an attack and are following a ‘positive line of inquiry’.

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Mr Leiper was charged with a string of sex attacks and violent assaults on a woman over several years, the Daily Record reported.

He was acquitted of all charges at Glasgow High Court on July 30.

Sources close to the investigation told the newspaper he was a valium dealer and may have been involved in a ‘turf war’ with rivals.

The 31-year-old was also said to have been charged with the attempted rape of a 15-year-old girl.

violent assaults on a woman over a 12-year period beginning when she was 14 – including trying to smother her with a pillow.

Prosecutors also claimed he attempted to rape a 15-year-old girl and threatened to blow himself up in front of her.

Court papers reveal Leiper faced claims that between 2005 and 2017, he repeatedly battered and threatened a woman.

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The same woman alleged he also subjected her to repeated rapes, including once while she was pregnant.

On one occasion in 2016, it was claimed he tried to murder her by straddling her on a bed and placing a pillow over her face during a rape attack.

Leiper also faced claims he threatened another pregnant woman with a knife.

He was indicted in February last year but the trial only started in late July because of Covid delays.

Five days after the trial concluded, his charred remains were found yards from his flat in Househill Park.

The body alert was raised at 7.35am on Wednesday after Leiper’s corpse was found near a playground in the park, across from a residential street.

Murder cops said “extensive inquiries” are under way to establish what happened to him.

His death was being described as “unexplained”.

But police said a home near the park had been searched, with officers stationed outside one property yards from the entrance.

Leiper is believed to have stabbed a dog during a rammy just hours before he was found dead.

Locals claim he had attacked a dog after a bust-up near his home on the Tuesday night.

Police have been conducting a fingertip search of the dog owner’s home for several days since the body was found.

A local source said: “Everyone is talking about the trial and Billy injuring the dog.

The word is he was involved in some dispute and he took a blade to the pooch.

“But it’s still a mystery how he came to be found dead.

What’s for sure is there are people out there who know more than they are saying.”

Another added: “I think there’s been some sort of altercation involving Leiper.

A dog has attacked him and then he’s meant to have taken out a knife and stabbed the dog.”

It’s not clear how badly injured the dog was in the attack.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Patrick, of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said: ‘We are working to establish the full circumstances of what happened and our thoughts are very much with William’s family a week after he was found.

This is a very difficult time for them and I want to reassure them, and the wider community, that we are doing all we can to find answers.

‘Our enquiries so far indicate that this may have been a targeted attack and officers are following a positive line of enquiry. However, I am continuing to urge anyone who may have seen anything in the park and nearby Hartstone Road to get in touch as the slightest bit of information could help with our enquiries.

He had a history of violence William was convicted of stabbing a stranger 27 times in a minute during a brutal murder bid.

William Leiper had earlier been at a funeral before turning on the victim last October.

The 43-year-old victim had been going to collect his bike outside the Old Toll Bar in Glasgow’s Kinning Park when he was attacked.

He ended up in hospital for two months after suffering horrific injuries to his liver, colon and spleen.

Leiper, 23, faces a lengthy jail-term after he pled guilty to an attempted murder charge at the High Court in Glasgow.

The hearing was told both the thug and his brother Robert Leiper had been at a funeral last October 5.

Around midnight, the victim was leaving the Old Toll Bar with two friends.

Prosecutors Barry Smith said the trio were walking to pick up their bikes when Leiper was clocked walked nearby.

He was joined by his brother, who was the first to suddenly punch the victim.

Mr Smith told how the assault was entirely “unprovoked”.

Leiper then turned on the victim, who was also kicked. As he tried to get up, he was immediately flung back to the ground.

The horror attack only ended when the victim’s friends bravely stepped in.

The brothers fled the scene – but a blood trail to their home in nearby Govan Road lead police to them.

Officers were forced to use a stun grenade to control the situation.

Robert Leiper had also faced an attempted murder allegation, but he instead pled guilty to a reduced charge of assault.

William Leiper was remanded in custody while his brother had his bail continued.

A MAN has been arrested in connection with the death of William Leiper, whose remains were found in a Glasgow park. 

A 40-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of William, 30. 

William’s remains were found in Househill park in Pollok on Wednesday, August 4 at around 7.35am. 

McPhie is alleged to have purchased bleach and lighter fluid to use in order to destroy evidence.

He is also accused of burning clothing and part of a blood-soaked mattress in the rear garden of his home.

McPhie is also stated to have tried to evade detection by the police by moving through various addresses and shaving his head to avoid detection and arrest. 

The final charge states he stole a quantity of fuel from an Esso garage in the city’s Barrhead on August 6 this year.

McPhie made no plea through his lawyer Paul Langan at a private hearing in Glasgow Sheriff Court.

It is claimed he then removed Mr Leiper’s body by placing him in a wheelie bin and transported him to Hillhouse Park in Pollok.

A bizarre case from Scotland that is escalating quickly.

I will keep you updated on the latest.

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