Infamous Scots. James. Roland. Robertson.

Contains Sensitive Information.

It was early in the morning of 28th July 1950 when a taxi-driver driving along Prospecthill Road, Glasgow, noticed a bundle in the middle of the road. When he stopped to investigate he realised the bundle was in fact the body of a woman.At first glance the police suspected that the woman was the victim of a hit-and-run incident but a post-mortem revealed injuries to the body that had probably occurred prior to death and that the victim had been run over repeatedly. The woman was identified as Catherine McCluskey.The vehicle involved was found abandoned in a side street. It’s owner was registered as James Robertson, who was a police officer. He was arrested and charged with murder. His said that he had found the car abandoned and on checking the records had discovered it had been stolen and decided to keep it. He also admitted knowing Catherine McCluskey and said that he was the father of her second child.His story as to the events of that day were that he had been driving down Prospecthill Road when he spotted Mrs McCluskey and had stopped to speak to her. He said she had asked him for a lift but that he had refused because he was on duty. He had left her and driven away but had then changed his mind and stopping had reversed the car, he could not see her but then felt the car bump over something. He had in fact run her down. When he tried to move the car off her he found her body had become jammed under the vehicle and he had driven backwards and forwards until he had managed to get clear.At his trial at Glasgow in November 1950 he chose to repeat his story from the witness box and it was quickly destroyed under cross-examination. He was found guilty and sentenced to death, being executed on 15th December 1950 at Barlinnie prison at the age of 33.