Gemma Fox

Police in Edinburgh are trying to quell fears that three recent deaths in the city are linked because the victims were all gay men.

The most recent victim is 64-year old senior lecturer Roger Gray, who was gay. He was discovered dead in his flat in the Merchiston area of the city on Saturday 19th March.

His body was discovered at around 8.30am on Saturday morning when gas workers, who had been called to the house following reports of a smell of gas, alerted police. He was found lying in the hallway of his property and had suffered multiple stab wounds.

Today Lothian and Borders Police announced that, following a post mortem examination, Mr Gray's death was being treated as a murder case.

This announcement has fuelled fears of a gay link because of two previous deaths in the city within the last few weeks.

On February 27 this year a 44-year old man was found unconscious in an elevator inside a block of flats in the Leith area. He died a short time later at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The post mortem examination into his death returned an 'inconclusive' verdict on the cause of his death.

At the time friends of Mr Carter expressed their concern that he had been targeted because of his sexuality but at the time detectives were reluctant to rule that the death had been a result of a homophobic attack.

Mr Carter's friends said that he had been drinking in the Port o' Leith pub throughout the day on Saturday February 26 and had chatted with two men with whom he left the pub at 11.30pm that night. He was found at around 3.30am in the elevator.

One worried friend said, "We don't know if he was maybe going to a party. John was gay so we don't know if he might have expected something else to happen.

"That's left us thinking it may have been a homophobic attack."

The third man, who now cannot be named for legal reasons, was found dead at a flat in the Pilton area of Edinburgh. He is believed to have been gay. He was found dead on the same day as John Carter, Sunday 27 February 2011.

Lothian and Borders Police said today, "We recognise the potential concerns that these tragic deaths may have caused within the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community, and we are making contact with LGBT groups and organisations in order to provide them with reassurance and advice.

"It is important to stress at this stage that there is nothing to indicate a link between the three deaths. However, and as always, we are keeping an open mind in terms of our inquiries."

Forty detectives have been assigned to investigate the murder of Roger Gray and a dedicated, confidential hotline has been set up which anyone with information can call. An email address has also been set up.

Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Blair said of the investigation into Mr Gray's death, "The post-mortem examination has confirmed that Mr Gray suffered extensive stabbing injuries, in what was clearly a sustained attack.

"At this time we are devoting extensive resources towards tracking down his killer, and we are appealing for help from the public to help us in our inquiries.

"We are asking anyone who was in the area of Merchiston Crescent overnight from Friday night into Saturday morning, who saw or heard any suspicious activity in the area, to contact us if they have not already done so.

"In particular, we want to speak to anyone who may have heard a disturbance from within Mr Gray's flat around 10pm on Friday.

"We are also interested in speaking to any friends of Mr Gray who can help us build a fuller picture of his background. I would urge anyone who can assist to contact us on the confidential hotline number, or to email us on the dedicated address provided."