A drink-driver who killed a charity cyclist and then concealed his body in a shallow grave on a remote Scottish estate has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. Alexander McKellar, 31, was speeding when he struck 63-year-old Tony Parsons on the A82 near Bridge of Orchy in September 2017, leaving him to die.
McKellar and his twin brother Robert later hid Mr Parsons' body, which remained undiscovered for three years. Alexander McKellar admitted culpable homicide, while both brothers pleaded guilty to defeating the ends of justice. Judge Lord Armstrong said the brothers had caused Mr Parsons' family 'devastating loss and emotional ongoing harm'.
Mr Parsons, a grandfather from Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, had gone missing during a 104-mile charity bike ride from Fort William to his home town. He had previously been treated for prostate cancer and wanted to raise money for charity. His disappearance sparked extensive searches involving mountain rescue teams, police dogs and air support, as well as appeals on BBC's Crimewatch.
The court heard that on the day of the incident, the McKellar twins had been drinking with a shooting party at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel. Alexander McKellar then drove home to the Auch Estate, where he hit Mr Parsons. He did not seek medical assistance, and the cyclist's injuries were so severe that he would have survived only 20 to 30 minutes without help. The twins later returned to the scene in another car, transported Mr Parsons' body to the estate, and buried him.
Mr Parsons' remains were not found until 2020, when Alexander McKellar led his former girlfriend to the shallow grave. She left a Red Bull can to mark the location before contacting police. The court heard that without her revelation, the body would probably never have been found. During the police dig, investigators discovered Mr Parsons' body with catastrophic rib, pelvic and spine fractures.
Brian McConnachie KC, defending Alexander McKellar, said his client wanted to apologise for the trauma caused and acknowledged he had done a terrible thing. He added: 'He would do anything he could to alter the decision he took in September 2017, but he cannot rewind the clock.'
