Police bring rare charges over missing mum Khasha Smith
Police bring rare charges over missing mum Khasha Smith
Plus: Low Traffic Neighbourhood ‘proves popular’ and artists throw open their doors
Man due in court today over suspected death of missing mum
Police have taken the unusual step of charging a man in connection with the death of missing mum Khasha Smith despite so far being unable to trace her body.
The 35-year-old mother-of-three has been missing since October last year and following extensive inquiries police now believe she is dead.
A 39-year-old man has been charged in connection with her death and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.
Rare step: It is unusual for police to bring such charges without tracing a body. While convictions in these circumstances are historically rare, due to the lack of forensic evidence, increasingly sophisticated techniques mean detectives have been able to build successful cases in recent years.
Previous success: In Scotland, prosecutors secured murder convictions in 2012 over the death of both Suzanne Pilley, who went missing from her work in Edinburgh’s New Town, and Aberdeenshire woman Arlene Fraser.
Canalside search: The charges come after police carried out a search near Khasha's home in Edinburgh's Calder Grove last week. Officers combed through shrubbery beside the Union Canal. Khasha was last seen safe and well in a FaceTime call with one of her family and has not been seen or heard from since.
Family’s devastation: Police say Khasha’s family, including teenage daughter Callie who made a public appeal in support of the police search earlier this year, are “devastated” and that detectives are determined to find answers for them.
Ongoing search: Bob Williamson, of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said: "Extensive enquiries remain ongoing to trace Khasha and I would again encourage anyone with any information regarding her disappearance to contact police, as a matter of urgency. Any piece of information, no matter how small or insignificant you think it is, could prove vital, so please get in touch.”
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
MANE MAN: An endangered Asiatic lion left alone at Edinburgh Zoo after his partner and cub were relocated as part of a breeding programme is to get a new mate. Jayendra will be joined by lioness Bindee who is due to arrive from France within weeks.
GREEN BUSES: Lothian Buses’ first fully electric double deckers took to the streets of Edinburgh this weekend. The first of a £24 million investment in cleaner buses the purchase of 50 Volvo BZL Electric will begin operating on the No 8 and 9 routes before being rolled out gradually over the coming months.
JENNY HASTINGS: Our thoughts and condolences to Scotland rugby legend Scott Hastings and family. The body of his wife Jenny, 60, was found at the weekend, four days after she disappeared while swimming at Edinburgh’s Wardie Bay. The couple had supported the 100 Streets campaign to keep people active and spoke about her struggles with her mental health in recent years.
WIND PLANS BLOWN: East Lothian Council is objecting to plans from Belltown Power UK Wind Limited for a wind farm of 200m high turbines on the Lammermuir Hills. A meeting of the council’s planning committee heard opinion had been split in local communities, with many local residents believing the rural county had hosted “more than its fair share” of energy projects. A final decision on the plans for land 6km from Gifford will be made by the Scottish Government's Energy Consent Unit.
NEW TOWN BUCCANEERS: Mia Threapleton has been among the stars of the Apple TV period drama The Buccaneers filming in the New Town. The 23-year old actor, daughter of Kate Winslett, was shooting a wedding scene for the second series of the adaptation of Edith Wharton’s novel of the same name. The scenes saw Victorian-style horse and carriages being driven over the cobbles of Northumberland Street.
COWGATE FISTICUFFS: Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf has been caught on film throwing down his hat and squaring up to two men in the Cowgate, as the pair are held back by friends. The 38-year-old American star of the Transformer movies is in Scotland while his wife Mia Goth films for Guillermo del Toro’s new Frankenstein film.
LOW TRAFFIC HIT: Controversial measures aimed at making the streets in Corstorphine safer are proving generally popular, according to market research commissioned by the city council. A six-month update found the Low Traffic Neighbourhood measures had seen traffic decrease by up to 9.2 per cent outside Corstorphine Primary School at peak times, but there was an increase in overall traffic across the area of up to 6.5%. Traffic speeds fell, cycling was up 3.6% and walking up 2.2%. The survey found more than twice as many local people (50%) approved as disapproved (24%) of the scheme.
THE BUSINESS
Innovative city spin-out cracks funding for new food technology
An innovative food science business – based in Edinburgh and spun-out from Heriot-Watt University more than 20 years ago – has raised the first tranche of £1.5 million in funding for its pioneering food science work.
Nandi Proteins has raised an initial £500,000 through a convertible loan from investor including Nesta, the UK’s social innovation agency, and Scottish Enterprise, to support the development of the company’s egg white replacer for gluten-free bakery and mycoprotein alternatives, which has attracted “strong interest” from bakery and vegan food manufacturers.
Nesta has pledged to support a further fund-raising round with a further £1 million. Supply chain shortages, bird flu, and plant-based trends are among main factors which have seen many companies developing egg-free solutions.
The company was set up to develop innovative protein-based ingredients and after years of R&D, developed a technology that modifies protein functionality and has significant potential to replace “undesirable” ingredients used widely in the food industry.
CEO David Flower shared, “We are delighted with this funding from Nesta and Scottish Enterprise and Nesta’s commitment to invest in our equity raise. It provides further validation for our innovative food ingredient technology.”
STORES SAVED: Two Lothian Body Shops look set to be spared the axe after the business was bought from administration. Investment firm Auréa announced the completion of the acquisition on Saturday, all but securing a future for 1,300 workers. The deal was announced with an explanation that there are no plans for any of the remaining 113 shops to close – including Edinburgh St James and Livingston Outlet.
TAKING FLIGHT: Edinburgh Airport has further enhanced its burgeoning connectivity with North America. For the first time in five years a daily summer route will link Scotland’s Capital with Philadelphia, with American Airlines, from May to October next year.
WIN ON TOUR: Mercat Tours, the Edinburgh tour company, has become the first of its kind to receive B Corp certification in the UK. The accreditation recognises the company’s high standards for social and environmental performance.
MITSUBISHI TALKS: Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray MP has promised to hold meetings with management at the Mitsubishi Electric factory in Livingston, which is considering reducing its workforce by around 440 as orders have reduced for its products, which include heat pumps and air conditioning units. He was asked to become involved by local MP Gregor Poynton.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
OUT OF THE BLUE: More than a dozen artists based at Leith’s Out of the Blue Drill Hall are showcasing their work as part of the charity’s 30th anniversary celebrations. The ten-day exhibition features a range of work including illustration, photography, graphic design, painting, art therapy, poetry, glasswork and more. Organised by resident photographer and visual artist Solen Collet, the exhibition HOME: A Residents' Showcase will run from Tuesday 10th to Friday 20th September from 10am - 5pm (not including Sunday). The space will be used in a unique way to create a home from home, with work displayed in our interactive living room and garden spaces.
ART WALK AND OPEN DOORS: If that is not enough amazing art for you, then the coming weekend also sees A Colony of Artists take place in Abbeyhill and Art Walk Porty continue.
REBUS ON STAGE: A New Town dinner party ends in murder, leading one of the players to step forward to solve it, none other than Inspector John Rebus. An original adventure from the pen of author Ian Rankin, starring former Coronation Street star Gray O’Brien, Rebus: A Game Called Malice is at the Festival Theatre from tomorrow until Saturday.
QUICK BITES
BUN-TASTIC NEWS: Popular eatery Luxford Burgers are set to welcome customers into their new Canonmills venue on September 7. After launching back in 2020, the chain has grown from its Capital restaurant base in the south side to also operating delivery kitchens in Glasgow, Manchester, Nottingham and Leeds.
NEW STARS ON BOARD: Multi-award winning floating boutique hotel Fingal has appointed a new Head Chef and Restaurant Chef to lead culinary operations on board, including its 2 AA Rosette restaurant. Galician gastro-stars Head Chef Pedro Barreira and Restaurant Chef Andrea Sendon Alonso will now become the driving force behind the food offerings at the stunning Leith-berthed former lightship.
CASUAL SUCCESS: Casual restaurant Smith & Gertrude in Stockbridge has been named one of the top fine-dining places in the UK by food and drink magazine Olive for its charcuterie, cheeses, and “awesome grilled cheese sandwiches.”