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Published: 05 September 2024

FOI 2024/25-045 - Firearms examinations in Shamsuddin Mahmood case

Category: FOI

Report Summary

Issued 26 August 2024, this FOI response confirms no firearms examinations or analysis is held in relation to the Shamsuddin Mahmood case.

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Request

I would like to make a Freedom of Information request concerning the Northern Constabulary investigation into the murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood at the Mumutaz Indian Restaurant in Kirkwall on June 2, 1994.

During the course of the investigation, ballistic tests were carried out comparing the 9mm bullet and casing recovered from the scene of the crime with bullets and casings from other 9mm firearms recovered by police.

The casings were sent to the ballistics unit at Strathclyde Police Forensic Science Laboratory for examination. During this initial examination, the casings appear to have been sent to the laboratory in the first days of July, 1994.

By way of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I would like to request the following information regarding the ballistic testing:
1. please explain the results of the examinations for each firearm which had sample bullets and casings that were compared with the bullet and casing from the crime scene (I understand samples from 11 separate firearms were compared with the murder bullet and casing).
2. please provide any reports, correspondence, and memos regarding the ballistic testing of the above mentioned 9mm bullets and casings.

In mid-October, 1994, the 9mm pistols were test fired again by police, and sent to the Strathclyde laboratory for further examination against the casing and bullet recovered from the scene of the crime. This time, a 9mm pistol, which supposedly couldn't fire, was also submitted for examination.

As above, by way of the FOI act, I would like to request the following information about these October tests:
3. please explain the results of the examinations for each firearm which had sample bullets and casings that were compared with the bullet and casing from the crime scene.
4. please provide any reports, correspondence, and memos concerning the ballistic testing of these 9mm casings
5. please explain the kinds of examinations that were undertaken regarding the 9mm pistol as well as the results of this.
6. please provide any reports, correspondence, and memos concerning the ballistic testing of the 9mm pistol.

Lastly, the 9mm pistol referred to above was examined a second time, at some point between December 6 and December 22, 1994. By way of the FOI act, I would like to request the following information regarding this examination:
6. please explain the kinds of examinations that were undertaken regarding the 9mm pistol and the results of this.
7. please provide any reports, correspondence, and memos concerning this examination.


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