Paul Black, 65, was found not guilty of murdering Peter Coshan but convicted of perverting the course of justice by hiding the body and lying to police

Paul Black, 65, has been acquitted of the murder of retired Fettes College teacher Peter Coshan, 75, but has been convicted of perverting the course of justice. The case centred on a plot involving Black and his flatmate, Paul McNaughton, 29, who had lured Coshan to their flat in Leith, Edinburgh, using a fake profile on the hook-up site Gaydar.

McNaughton pleaded guilty to Coshan’s murder and to perverting the course of justice in 2023. The court heard that McNaughton had stolen tens of thousands of pounds from Coshan after gaining access to his bank accounts, with Black allegedly aware of the thefts from the beginning. When Coshan threatened to report the theft unless he received free sexual favours, McNaughton decided to kill him.

The jury at Edinburgh High Court returned a not-proven verdict on the murder charge against Black but unanimously found him guilty of perverting the course of justice. During the trial, Black admitted to hiding Coshan’s body and lying to police during their investigation. The court heard that after the murder, Black and McNaughton hid the body under a bed while they visited a fun fair and went on a spending spree using Coshan’s bank cards.

On around August 15, 2022, the pair placed Coshan’s body in a stolen suitcase and drove it to a layby on the A696 between Otterburn and Belsay in Northumberland, where they attempted to dig a grave before dumping the body next to a wall.

Judge Lord Scott told Black, “You have been found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice which, as Mr. Lenehan rightly says, is an extremely serious matter.” He indicated that similar cases have attracted prison sentences of up to six years and stated that a “significant period of custody will follow.”

In a statement issued through the police, Coshan’s family expressed their gratitude for the support they received. They said, “Their continued support has, without doubt, helped us through this nightmare and has been an amazing display of the best of human nature. This is in stark contrast to the worst of human nature, which was displayed by the individual who took Peter’s life.”

They added, “We remain horrified that anybody could have treated a vulnerable 75-year-old in such a despicable manner. Our life will never be the same and we will always ask the question, ‘What if?’”

Tony Lenehan KC, defending, acknowledged the gravity of perverting the course of justice, describing it as a “serious crime, which will inevitably be visited with a considerable period in custody.” Both Black and McNaughton are scheduled to be sentenced on June 17.

Police Scotland Detective Superintendent Andrew Patrick, the senior investigating officer, remarked, “This was a horrendous crime which has left Dr. Coshan’s family absolutely devastated and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.”

The case has highlighted the severe consequences of financial exploitation and the tragic outcomes that can result from manipulative and deceitful behaviour.