Robert Best murder suspect Brian O'Neill makes second court appearance over alleged killing

A man accused of killing Robert Best in Greenock four months ago has made his second court appearance in connection with the case.

Brian O'Neill appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court this afternoon charged with committing the murder along with others in November.

Prosecutors claim O'Neill and others murdered the 50-year-old at a flat in Greenock before a botched bid to torch his body in a field.

O'Neill, 39, made no plea to the two charges he faced during the hearing this afternoon, Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

He was fully committed for trial during the hearing, which took place in private, and he was remanded in custody.

No future court dates have been set, but he is expected to go on trial over the claims at some point next year.

O'Neill is the seventh person charged over his death while an eighth was released without charge.

Andrew Brodie, Stephen Shields and Gary McGowan were also previously charged with murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice, while a 25-year-old was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Prosecutors claim Brodie, 51, and Sheilds, 44, killed the 50-year-old at Shields' flat in Lansbury Street, Greenock, on Monday, November 10, 2025.

Court papers state they "did repeatedly stab him on the body with knives... whilst acting with others".

The attempting to defeat the ends of justice charge states that "having committed the crime" and "being conscious of [their] guilt" they did "place the body or Robert Best within a rug and remove said body" from the flat.

Brodie is said to have taken the body "to a field near Devol Road, Kilmalcolm" where there was allegedly an "attempt to set fire to said body all in an attempt to avoid detection, arrest and prosecution".

Best's body was found in the field, near to High Mathernock Farm, Kilmacolm, on Tuesday, November 11.

The discovery was made after reports of a disturbance at the Lansbury Street flat saw police cordoning the property off and erecting a forensic tent in the garden of the property.

Two women also previously appeared in the dock at Greenock Sheriff Court charged over his murder.

Nicola Brisland, who is also known as Nicola Campbell, and Dorothy Shields, both of Port Glasgow, both faced a single charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

Brisland, 41, and 64-year-old Shields made no plea and were released on bail after the cases against them were continued for prosecutors to investigate further.

Another man, aged 45, was also arrested by police previously but released pending further enquiries.