Key Points
- Twenty-one-year-old Kyler Rattray pleaded not guilty to murdering 39-year-old scientist Dr Fortune Gomo in Dundee.
- Prosecutors allege the fatal attack carried a racial, national, or ethnic aggravation.
- Dr Gomo worked as a scientist for Scottish Water, had a young daughter, and died from stab wounds on South Road on 5 July 2025.
- Defence lawyers entered the not guilty plea during a preliminary hearing at the High Court.
- The High Court in Dundee scheduled the trial to begin in January 2028.
Dundee (Birmingham Express) October 12, 2026 – A 21-year-old man has formally lodged a plea of not guilty to the racially motivated murder of scientist Dr Fortune Gomo in Dundee.
Kyler Rattray appeared at court facing charges that he attacked and fatally stabbed the 39-year-old mother on South Road on 5 July 2025.
Crown prosecutors contend that the fatal assault was aggravated by racial, national, or ethnic prejudice.
During the preliminary court hearing, defence representatives confirmed that Mr Rattray denies all charges connected to the fatal stabbing.
Lord Ericht and court officials agreed that the trial would formally open in January 2028 at the High Court in Dundee.
As reported by legal reporters at STV News, defence advocate Mr Paterson acknowledged the gravity of the proceedings, stating that there was “no getting away” from the fact that it was a “troubling case”.
The victim, Dr Fortune Gomo, was an esteemed scientist working with Scottish Water who had completed her higher education in both Zimbabwe and Scotland.
Following the tragic loss, colleagues, family members, and local residents expressed profound grief and paid public tributes to her life and professional contributions.
As reported by crime correspondents at ITV News, a spokesperson representing her colleagues said: “This was only matched by her emotional intelligence. She was the kind of person you would go to when you needed clarity, not just of mind, but of heart.”
The spokesperson added: “We are heartbroken… but we are also united in one voice: Fortune Gomo mattered. Her legacy must never be forgotten.”
Following the murder inquiry launch in 2025, Police Scotland urged members of the public to refrain from circulating unverified speculation or misinformation regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident on social media platforms.
What is the background to this high-profile legal development?
The case dates back to the late afternoon of Saturday, 5 July 2025, when emergency services were alerted to an incident on South Road in Dundee.
Upon arrival, officers from Police Scotland discovered Dr Fortune Gomo suffering from critical injuries following a knife attack on the public street.
Despite the immediate response of paramedic teams, Dr Gomo was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following extensive local inquiries, police arrested and subsequently charged Kyler Rattray, who was 20 at the time of his initial arrest.
Dr Gomo was a prominent member of the local community, known both for her scientific work with Scottish Water and her dedication as a mother.
Her death led to widespread community gatherings, including a public vigil and march held at City Square in Dundee to honor her memory.
How will this development affect the local community and legal stakeholders?
The confirmation of a formal not guilty plea and the scheduling of a High Court trial for January 2028 marks a critical stage in the Scottish judicial process.
For the family, friends, and professional colleagues of Dr Fortune Gomo, this development establishes a concrete legal timeline, although the extended period before the trial commences means prolonged anticipation for a final judicial outcome.
For the legal system and the wider public in Dundee, the inclusion of a statutory racial aggravation charge ensures that the case will remain subject to close scrutiny regarding public safety, hate crime legislation, and community cohesion.
Furthermore, local law enforcement agencies and community groups are expected to continue monitoring social channels to prevent the spread of speculative statements prior to the trial proceedings in 2028.
