Drink-driver admits killing cyclist and hiding his body with twin brother

A drink driver has admitted killing charity cyclist Tony Parsons by crashing into him then abandoning him by the side of the road.

Alexander McKellar caused the death of Mr Parsons by hitting him with his vehicle on the A82 near Bridge of Orchy on September 29 2017.

McKellar and his twin brother, Robert, both appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow, where they admitted a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by burying him.

While originally charged with murder, advocate depute Alex Prentice KC announced the charges against the two brothers had been amended.

Alexander McKellar admitted driving on the A82 at “excess speed and when unfit through alcohol”.

His Isuzu D-Max pick-up hit 63-year-old Mr Parsons, who was cycling at the time.

With “reckless disregard” for his actions, he left Mr Parsons by the side of the road “in a remote location during the hours of darkness and in inclement weather”, causing his death.

The charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice, is said to have taken place between September 29 2017 and January 3 2021.

Mr Parsons’ remains were found in a remote area near a farm at Bridge of Orchy in January 2021.

Both brothers admitted leaving the site where Mr Parsons had been struck and returning in another vehicle, into which they placed the cyclist along with his bicycle and other belongings.

They moved him to woods in Auch Estate, before then moving his body to another location which was used to dispose of dead animals.

There, they dug a grave and buried him, as well as disposing of his belongings.

They pretended the damage caused to their car had been due to striking a deer and sought to conceal that Mr Parsons had been struck by it.

After the pleas were accepted on Wednesday, Judge Lord Armstrong said the matter would be continued to the same court on Friday as prosecution and defence agree a joint narrative.