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Coastaguard volunteer found partly-clothed dead teenager  10/5/13
by Grant McCabe  

A coastguard volunteer has told how he discovered the partially-clothed corpse of missing teenager Liam Aitchison in a derelict building on Lewis.

Ronald Maclean was carrying out a search for the 16-year-old when he made the grim find inside the apparently blood-stained property in Steinish on the outskirts of Stornoway.

The evidence was heard at the trial of Johnathan MacKinnon and Stefan Millar at the High Court in Glasgow.

The pair - both 22 - are charged with the murder of Mr Aitchison of Lochbosidale on November 23 2011.

It is claimed he was struck on the head and body with a knife and bottle as well having his head stamped upon.

Mr Maclean today told how he and a number of other volunteers took part in a search for the then missing teenager on November 29 2011.

This involved a number of buildings being checked. Mr Maclean said it was thought Mr Aitchison would not be found as it was believed he may have simply left the island.

However, the witness said a run-down property in Steinish - described as a "mess" - was investigated as part of the search.

Mr Maclean followed a colleague in after climbing through a broken door panel.

Prosecutor Iain McSporran asked: "Can you tell us what you observed?"

Mr Maclean: "A boy's body lying on the floor."

Mr McSporran: "He certainly was not fully clothed?"

The witness: "No."

The teenager's body was found in a room near to a window. He was wearing only a T-shirt, underpants and socks.

Mr McSporran added: "This was obviously a distressing find?"

The witness agreed it was. The court heard there appeared to be blood staining on a carpet.

Mackinnon and Millar deny murder.

The trial, before Judge Lord Kinclaven, continues.