Saddest birthday present a mother could get her son ... but this is still a great day

Mark Irvine (slightly abridged) | Monday, 4 July 2005 Source: Scottish Daily Record

THE mother of murder victim Kriss Donald held a birthday party for her dead son – just hours after she was told three suspects had been arrested.

On what would have been Kriss's 17th birthday, Angela Donald gathered family and friends for a tribute and picnic at the cemetery where he is buried.

And as she unveiled a headstone in her son's memory she said: 'This is the saddest birthday present a mother could ever buy a son – but it is a glorious day.'

The small group of relatives and friends hugged each other as a protective sheet was removed from the headstone to reveal a moving inscription – a poem written by Angela, 41, as a tribute to Kriss's memory.

Just a few hours earlier, the officer leading the inquiry, Detective Superintendent Elliott McKenzie, had visited Angela. He told her that three people had been arrested in connection with Kriss's murder.

The officer, who also joined the Donald family at the graveside, has led an international investigation into the killing in March 2004, when Kriss was only 15. Three weeks ago, Mr McKenzie, 49, made a special visit overseas to provide crucial intelligence information that resulted in the three arrests.

A court order bans the Daily Record from identifying the suspects or saying where they were arrested.

Authorities in the country swooped after a marathon surveillance operation and months of sensitive diplomatic negotiations. The top-secret operation culminated just after midday on Saturday, when the three were taken into custody and their identities finally confirmed.

Diplomatic efforts by the family's MP, Mohammed Sarwar, and UK Government ministers have formed a major part of the investigation in recent months.

Glasgow Central Labour MP Sarwar has met with PM Tony Blair to discuss the case. And top-level government talks have taken place involving Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Foreign Office minister Douglas Alexander.

The UK does not have an extradition treaty with the country where the suspects were arrested. But special one-off arrangements have been made to ensure the three are now returned to Scotland to face questioning.

Kriss was snatched off the street in Pollokshields, Glasgow, and bundled into a Mercedes car. He was driven on a 200-mile journey, via Dundee, kicked repeatedly, stabbed 13 times, then set on fire.

Fatally wounded, he was dumped in Glasgow's east end, near the River Clyde. Forensic experts say he tried to put out the flames by rolling around in a muddy hollow near a cycle path, where he was found next morning.

Last December, shopkeeper Daanish Zahid, 20, was sentenced to 17 years for the murder. Another man, Zahid Mohammed, 20, was cleared of murder but sentenced to five years for abduction.

During the trial of Daanish Zahid, the High Court at Edinburgh was told that as he was hauled into the car Kriss screamed: 'Why me? I'm only 15.'

Sarwar spent two weeks persuading police and politicians in the foreign country that they should arrest the three suspects.

During a second visit in May, he met senior politicians, including the prime minister and interior minister, along with high-ranking police officers and representatives of the legal system.

The foreign country has never extradited any non-terrorist criminals to any country in the world before now The one-off extradition order could now pave the way for a formal treaty between that country and the UK.

Sarwar said he could not go into details of the arrests.

But he praised the people of Pollokshields and Kriss's family for their dignified behaviour in the 15 months since the murder – despite attempts by the British National Party to use the killing to raise their profile. Sarwar said: 'This was a brutal murder and no stone has been left unturned by myself, the police, the Crown Office and the British Government to do all they can to help Kriss Donald's family.

'The family and our community have behaved with honour and dignity – and that is why extremists like the BNP couldn't use this tragic case to create racial disharmony.

TV star Carol Smillie recently told how Kriss's murder moved her to spearhead a new anti-racism campaign.

The former Changing Rooms presenter lives in the Pollokshields area with husband Alex Knight, close to where the schoolboy was abducted.

She said: 'It was just round the corner from my front door. I couldn't believe it.