Man denies racist murder of scientist Fortune Gomo in Dundee; trial set for January 2028
Kyler Rattray, 21, pleaded not guilty at a remote High Court hearing to the racially aggravated murder of Dr Fortune Gomo in Dundee in July 2025. His trial is due to begin in January 2028.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Kyler Rattray, 21, has denied the racially aggravated murder of scientist Dr Fortune Gomo in Dundee. BBC NewsN “A man has denied the racially-aggravated murder of a scientist on a Dundee street.” Read at BBC News ↗ Evening StandardN “A man has pleaded not guilty to the allegedly racist murder of a scientist in Dundee.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 2Prosecutors allege Dr Gomo, 39, was repeatedly struck on the body with a knife in July 2025 and that the attack was aggravated by prejudice relating to race, nationality or ethnicity. BBC NewsN “Prosecutors allege the 39-year-old academic was repeatedly struck on the body with a knife” Read at BBC News ↗ Evening StandardN “He is accused of striking her repeatedly on the body with a knife, which prosecutors say was aggravated by race, nationality or ethnicity.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 2The Evening Standard gives the date as 5 July 2025 and the location as South Road, near her home, while the BBC says South Street; the Standard also reports that prosecutors say he will be charged under the Hate Crime and Public Order Crime Act. Evening StandardN “near her home on South Road on July 5 2025” Read at Evening Standard ↗ BBC NewsN “is accused of attacking Dr Fortune Gomo in South Street in July last year” Read at BBC News ↗
Centre · 1Rattray also faces a separate charge of illegally having a knife in a public place. BBC NewsN “Rattray also faces a separate charge of illegally having a knife in a public place.” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 2He entered his plea at a virtual hearing, by video link, at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday 12 October 2026. Evening StandardN “He pleaded not guilty during a remote hearing via video link at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ BBC NewsN “The case called at a virtual hearing at the High Court in Glasgow earlier.” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 2The trial is due to begin on 5 January 2028 at the High Court in Dundee and is expected to last eight days. BBC NewsN “The trial is due to begin on 5 January 2028 at the High Court in Dundee and is expected to last eight days.” Read at BBC News ↗ Evening StandardN “It was agreed that the trial would begin in January 2028 at the High Court in Dundee.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1Defence counsel Iain Paterson KC said a mental health report would be prepared in the coming months, and that Professor Baron-Cohen would assess whether Rattray has autism, which might link to a mental health defence of diminished responsibility. He also said there was "no getting away" that it was a "troubling case". Evening StandardN “Professor Baron-Cohen would assess whether Rattray had autism “which might link it to a mental health defence – whether his responsibility was diminished regarding this particular crime”.”“Mr Paterson said there was “no getting away” that it was a “troubling case”.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Dr Gomo was found fatally injured on the street and was treated by paramedics at the scene but never recovered. BBC NewsN “Dr Gomo was found fatally injured on the street and was treated by paramedics at the scene, but never recovered.” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 2Originally from Mutare in eastern Zimbabwe, she had a PhD from Dundee University and had recently started work for Scottish Water, where she was a senior service planner. She was also a mother. BBC NewsN “She was originally from Mutare in eastern Zimbabwe, had graduated with a PhD from Dundee University, and had recently started working for Scottish Water.” Read at BBC News ↗ Evening StandardN “Dr Gomo, a Scottish Water employee, had studied in Scotland and Zimbabwe, and was also a mother.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 2Scottish Water's Professor Simon Parsons called her an "exceptional scientist" and a "highly valued and respected" colleague who had joined in February. Police Scotland said her death had caused great shock across Dundee and, during the summer, urged the public to avoid sharing "misinformation" about the case. Evening StandardN “Fortune was an exceptional scientist and a senior service planner in our water resources planning section based in Dundee where, having joined us in February, she had already become a highly valued and respected member of our team.”“During the summer, Police Scotland urged the public to avoid sharing “misinformation” about the case.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ BBC NewsN “Police Scotland acknowledged that her death had caused great shock throughout Dundee.” Read at BBC News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets report the plea and trial date as a court update, with background on the victim and her career. The Standard adds the defence's mental health and autism line.
- Emphasis
- The BBC gives the trial length and the victim's background. The Standard gives the defence's diminished responsibility inquiry and tributes from Scottish Water.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The BBC does not mention the defence's plans to examine mental health. Neither outlet gives details of any motive or evidence.
- Charged language
- “racially-aggravated”“troubling case”
- For example
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“The trial is due to begin on 5 January 2028 at the High Court in Dundee and is expected to last eight days.” — BBC News
“Mr Paterson said there was “no getting away” that it was a “troubling case”.” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Kyler Rattray, 21, denied the racially aggravated murder of Dr Fortune Gomo, 39, in Dundee.
- The plea was entered at a remote hearing at the High Court in Glasgow.
- The trial is set for January 2028 at the High Court in Dundee.
- Rattray also faces a charge of illegally having a knife in a public place.
Where accounts differ
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Location of the alleged attack
- Centre
- BBC News says South Street; the Evening Standard says South Road, near her home.
Kyler Rattray person
Pleaded not guilty. His defence says it will examine his mental health, including autism and diminished responsibility.
“He pleaded not guilty during a remote hearing via video link at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday.” — Evening Standard
“Professor Baron-Cohen would assess whether Rattray had autism” — Evening Standard
Fortune Gomo person
The victim. Prosecutors allege she was killed in a racially aggravated knife attack. Her employer, Scottish Water, paid tribute to her as an exceptional scientist.
“Prosecutors allege the 39-year-old academic was repeatedly struck on the body with a knife” — BBC News
“Fortune was an exceptional scientist” — Evening Standard
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Man denies racist murder of scientist in Dundee as trial date set for 2028
Neutral Brief factual court report with the plea, charges, trial date and victim background.
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Man pleads not guilty to ‘racist’ murder of scientist in Dundee
Neutral Court report that adds the defence's mental health line and the Scottish Water tributes.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 12 Oct 10:59 First BBC NewsN Man denies racist murder of scientist in Dundee as trial date set for 2028
- 12 Oct 11:31 +32m Evening StandardN Man pleads not guilty to ‘racist’ murder of scientist in Dundee
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.