Bruadar a' Bhais/A Dream of Death

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John Morrison

Docudramas

Drama: Crime

Drama: Historical

Factual: Crime & Justice

Bruadar a' Bhàis (Brand)

10/03/2016

BBC ALBA - Bruadar a' Bhais/A Dream of Death

The story of Hugh Macleod, convicted of murder in a trial using 'dream testimony'.

Drama documentary telling the story of Hugh Macleod, a teacher who was convicted of the murder of a travelling pedlar in a trial where 'dream testimony' was admitted by the Crown.

Goirid mus deach a chrochadh airson murt ann an 1831, chaidh Uisdean Macleòid a dhraghadh tro shràidean Inbhirnis is ròpa mu amhaich, air beulaibh trì mile neach. Bhruidhinn e sa Ghàidhlig, ag aideachadh a chiont, mus deach a chuir gu bàs.

An seo, tha sgeulachd eucoir bhrùdail Mhicleòid, agus a' chùis cùirte a lean, air a h-ìnnse slàn. Seo an aon turas riamh fo lagh na h-Alba a chaidh an dàrna shealladh a ghabhail mar fhianais sa chùirt.

Bha Macleòid aithnichte 'son am miann a bh'aige air airgead. B'e sin a dh'adhbhraich gun do chuir è às do cheannaiche-siubhail, ann an sgìre iomallach Chataibh far an robh an dithis aca an tàmh. Bha nàir' is ùpraid sa choimhearsnachd, agus ged a bhathas aig an àm sin a' creidsinn gu mòr sa ghiobht de'n dà shealladh, chuir e chaidh fianais bho fhear a bh'air aithneachadh mar "aislingeach" a chreidsinn le diùraidh.

Le beachdan bho fhear poilis, neach lagha, neachd naidheachd agus eòlaiche inntinn, tha sgeulachd na cùise air a h-ìnnse 'son a cheud uair air telebhisean, le iomhaighean beartach dhràma na cois.

Before he was hanged for murder in 1831, young Hugh Macleod was paraded through the streets of Inverness in chains, jeered by a 3,000-strong crowd. He was the only defendant in Scottish legal history whose trial had admitted the evidence of second sight.

Macleod was a native of remote Assynt in Sutherland. A schoolteacher, he was driven by an obsession for fine clothes and a fondness for reckless living. When a popular travelling pedlar acquired a windfall, he became an easy target for Macleod.

This extraordinary Scottish crime story is told in full - a murder that led to the exposure of a respected member of society, an investigation where ancient rituals were carried out and a trial where the only 'dream testimony' ever known in Scots jurisprudence was admitted by the Crown.

The crime is considered from a 21st-century perspective, through expert contributors and drama reconstruction. It reveals how the people of a small Gaelic-speaking village took on a murder case themselves and discusses how today's forensics might still be challenged by it.

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