A gripping new true crime documentary series is set to air on BBC Two, delving into a shocking murder that shattered the peace of the Orkney Islands in 1994.
The Orkney Murder: A Community in Shock
On 2 June 1994, the tranquillity of Kirkwall in Orkney was violently broken. Shamsuddin Mahmood, a 26-year-old waiter, was shot dead at point-blank range as he served customers in a local Indian restaurant. This brutal killing was the first murder on the islands in a quarter of a century, sending shockwaves through the remote community.
Shamsuddin Mahmood had been in Orkney for just six weeks before his life was tragically cut short. The three-part series, The Man In The Mask: An Orkney Murder, fronted by journalist Hazel Martin, painstakingly re-examines this cold-blooded crime and the complex investigation that followed.
A Schoolboy Suspect and a Decade-Long Pursuit
The police investigation took a remarkable turn when a fifteen-year-old schoolboy, Michael Ross, became the prime suspect. Ross, an army cadet, was questioned by detectives shortly after the murder, but prosecutors at the time concluded there was insufficient evidence to charge him.
The case, however, refused to go cold. Over a decade later, a breakthrough emerged. A new witness came forward, claiming he had seen Michael Ross with a balaclava and a gun just before the murder. This testimony reinvigorated the investigation.
In May 2008, Ross finally stood trial at the High Court in Glasgow. He was subsequently convicted of the murder and handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years.
New Evidence and Unheard Testimonies
This BBC series promises to shed new light on the case through previously unseen documents, reports, and witness statements. It features the first interview with the key witness whose testimony was pivotal in securing the conviction.
Viewers will also hear never-before-broadcast audio recordings of Michael Ross from prison. The documentary includes insights from relatives and friends of both Shamsuddin Mahmood and Michael Ross, providing a poignant look at the people at the heart of this tragic story.
With its jaw-dropping twists and meticulous analysis by Hazel Martin, The Man in the Mask: An Orkney Murder is set to be essential viewing for true crime enthusiasts. The series airs on BBC Two on Thursday 27 November at 9pm and will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
