Trial date set for men accused of murdering Robert Best

The trial of four people accused of murdering a man in Greenock and dumping his body near a layby will be heard next year, a judge has confirmed.

Brian O’Neill, 39; Andrew Brodie, 51; Stephen Shields, 44; and Gary McGowan, 36, are accused of attacking 50-year-old Robert Best at an address on Lansbury Street on November 10 2025.

The four allegedly seized Mr Best and dragged him inside the property, before allegedly stabbing him and striking him on the head and body with knives or similar implements, and inflicting blunt force trauma to his head and body.

It is alleged the four then wrapped Mr Best’s body in a rug and put it in the boot of a car, before driving it to a layby on Devol Road, Kilmalcolm, where it is said they tried to set fire to it.

They are also accused of cleaning the Lansbury Street property and the car in a bid to destroy evidence.

Shields and McGowan are also accused of assaulting another man at the same property on November 10, with the charge reading that they pursued him before injuring and disfiguring him by repeatedly striking him on the head with a knife or similar implement.

McGowan is accused of going into hiding following the alleged killing in a bid to pervert the course of justice.

Two other people, Dorothy Shields, 65; and Nicola Campbell-Brisland, 42, are also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by going to the property on November 10 and 11 to clean up bloodstains and dispose of evidence.

At a brief virtual hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday morning, lawyers for all six tendered not guilty pleas on their behalf.

None of the accused was in attendance.

During the hearing, Judge Lord Arthurson fixed a trial date for June 21 2027, at the High Court in Glasgow.

He said a further preliminary hearing may be scheduled ahead of this if one is required.

The trial is expected to last 15 days.