Man denies racist murder of Dundee scientist

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 11:30 · Archive

A 21-year-old man has denied murdering Dr Fortune Gomo, 39, in a racially-aggravated attack in Dundee last July.

Kyler Rattray, 21, appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday and denied murdering Dr Fortune Gomo on South Road in Dundee on 5 July last year. Prosecutors allege that the 39-year-old academic was repeatedly struck with a knife and that the attack was aggravated by prejudice relating to race, colour, nationality or ethnicity, to be proved under the Hate Crime and Public Order Act. Rattray also faces a separate charge of illegally carrying a knife in a public place.

Dr Gomo, originally from Mutare in Zimbabwe, had obtained a PhD from the University of Dundee in 2022 and was working for Scottish Water at the time of her death. Her employer described her as an 'exceptional' scientist. She was found fatally injured on the street and treated by paramedics at the scene but never recovered.

The trial is due to begin on 5 January 2028 at the High Court in Dundee and is expected to last eight days.

How it is being reported

• Man denies racist murder of scientist in Dundee as trial date setKyler Rattray, 21, is alleged to have repeatedly struck Dr Fortune Gomo with a knife last year.BBC Scotland · 12 Oct, 10:59
• Man denies 'racist murder' of 'exceptional' scientist in DundeeKyler Rattray, 21, appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, October 12.Daily Record · 12 Oct, 10:38

In this story: Kyler Rattray · Dr Fortune Gomo · Dundee · Scottish Water · University of Dundee · Zimbabwe

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