One of Scotland's most notorious murder cases is being revisited in a new documentary by titled The Orkney Assassin.

The chilling 1994 murder of Shamsuddin Mahmood, a waiter at the Indian restaurant Mumtaz in Kirkwall, is the focus of the film.

Mahmood, a 26 year old Bangladeshi national, was brutally shot by a masked man in front of horrified diners, including families with children.

At the time of his death, Mahmood, who had previously worked on the island, was planning to return to Bangladesh and marry his girlfriend.

Following the shocking murder, the gunman disappeared into the night, leaving a lasting impact on the island that still resonates today, reports the .

Michael Ross, who was just 15 years old at the time of the murder, was initially questioned by police before being released.

After a lengthy 14-year investigation, former Black Watch soldier Ross was finally convicted of the murder in 2008.

In a dramatic turn of events, Ross attempted to flee the court after the guilty verdict was announced, but was caught just as he was about to escape.

A stash of weapons and camping equipment was later discovered in a vehicle rented by Ross in a nearby supermarket car park, which he claimed was part of his plan to evade capture and survive in the wilderness rather than face imprisonment.

Ross is currently serving a 25-year sentence at HMP Shotts in Lanarkshire, one of Scotland's highest security prisons. He has made three escape attempts, which he claims were efforts to bring his case back into public attention.

Despite his conviction, Ross has always proclaimed his innocence. His family, including his father and former policeman Eddy Ross, mother Moira and other members of the Orkney community are campaigning for his release as part of the J4MR - Justice 4 Michael Ross group.

Reach Screen Time had an exclusive chat with both local newspaper reporter Ethan Flett and prosecutor Brian McConnachie KC, who provided more insight into the case which continues to evoke strong emotions amongst the Orkney Island community.

Flett, who continues to cover the case as new developments arise, stated: "I think there's quite a split in the community between those that think Ross is guilty and those that think he's innocent."

Reflecting on why doubt persists about Ross' guilt despite the conviction, Flett commented: "There are a lot of inconsistencies and unanswered questions surrounding the case and the investigations that preceded the trial, dubious witnesses whose evidence seems to be rather important in the case, changing positions. Things like that got my interest in that."

The reporter for Orkney's oldest newspaper The Orcadian continued to discuss how despite the "thorough police work" in the unprecedented case "certain things were missed that look quite important" as well as the handling of the case.

Prosecutor McConnachie shared Flett's concerns about the divisions within the local community, stating: "I suspect it still does affect people."

Although not a resident of Orkney, McConnachie acknowledged the case's lasting impact: "I think there's always going to be two sides."

Given the island's small size, McConnachie noted that the case would inevitably affect the community's atmosphere, with residents likely holding differing opinions on Ross' guilt or innocence - particularly since his family still resides there.

McConnachie described the Orkney murder as a "challenging" case and his most high-profile one, citing the numerous times he has been asked about it compared to other cases he has worked on.

Regarding the ongoing interest in the case, McConnachie attributed it to the fact that "I think because things keep happening" including Ross' multiple escape attempts, the most recent being in 2018.

Addressing the lingering doubts about Ross' guilt, McConnachie stated: "I certainly haven't seen anything since the trial back in 2008 that suggests to me that the jury got it wrong."

McConnachie further noted: "If you are trying to look for things that point towards guilt, then you might look at the circumstances of the last day of the trial, and the motor vehicle that he had and the things he had in them when he tried to escape from the court - never mind trying to escape from the prison. That there's something unnerving about what was contained within the car."

Discussing the ongoing efforts to liberate Ross, he remarked: "I think if you are a family member and somebody is convicted and they tell you there are innocent, then the likelihood is that you are going to take their position on it and perhaps try and assist them as best you can in overcoming what they see as being a miscarriage of justice."

Audience members can delve into The Orkney Assassin now for an in-depth perspective on the murder case presenting both angles of the heartbreak.

The Orkney Assassin is streaming on Prime Video from June 8