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A convicted murderer has gone on the run from an open prison near Dundee. <\/p>\n
Raymond McCourt, 59, who shot a shopkeeper in 1993, was reported missing from HMP Castle Huntly wearing a suit and tie.<\/p>\n
McCourt, from Glasgow, was previously released on licence in 2015 but was sent back to jail for theft just weeks later.<\/p>\n
A court at the time heard he had struggled with freedom and wanted to be back behind bars. Police Scotland has warned the public not to approach him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The force said McCourt absconded from Castle Huntly at 17:30 on Tuesday. It is not clear if he was away from the prison on licence at the time.<\/p>\n
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Raymond uses public transport and has connections to the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas. <\/p>\n
“He is described as being 6ft 2in tall, stocky build with short grey hair and beard and has reduced mobility.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
McCourt was jailed, age 27, for murdering shopkeeper Khalid Mahmood in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, in 1993.<\/p>\n
He shot him in the head before attempting to rob a nearby bakery.<\/p>\n
McCourt also shot local woman Moira Rooney and PC Brian Williams, who was giving chase as he fled the scene of the incident.<\/p>\n
He was jailed for offences including murder, attempted murder, assault and robbery, assault to severe injury and firearms offences.<\/p>\n
McCourt was released on licence in 2015<\/a> and went to live with his partner Agnes Hailes in Alyth, Perthshire.<\/p>\n But Perth Sheriff Court heard that he then stole from her and sold off her valuables. <\/p>\n He used the money to pay for a holiday to Blackpool before he was eventually tracked down by police. <\/p>\n He told officers that he was struggling to cope with life outside of prison, and had stolen the items have a blow-out before returning to jail. <\/p>\n McCourt was given a 10-month term for the theft and recalled him to prison on his life sentence.<\/p>\n HMP Castle Huntly is Scotland’s only open prison.<\/p>\n Police Scotland has asked for anyone with information on McCourt to get in touch<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n