Friends say Scottish man may have been killed in anti-gay attack

A gay man found dead in Leith, Edinburgh, may have been killed in a homophobic attack, his friends say.

John Carter, 44, was found unconscious in a lift in a block on flats early on Sunday morning.

He died in hospital several hours later. Police say they are not currently treating his death as a homophobic attack.

According to the Scotsman, a friend said he had spent Saturday afternoon and evening in the Port O�Leith in Constitution Street before he was seen leaving with two men.

The friend told the newspaper: �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.

�John was a gentle giant with no interest in fighting. He was a lovely guy who was very cultured. He loved reading, playing backgammon, going to museums and libraries.�

Early reports suggested that Mr Carter had been beaten and one resident in the apartment block reported seeing blood by the lift.

Police said a post-mortem examination was inconclusive and are appealing for witnesses.