TWO murder suspects will stand trial next year charged with killing a man with a machete.

Callum Summers, 28, and Craig McColl, 23, are accused of attacking Stuart McGeachie in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, on October 24, 2023.

Prosecutors claim the 38-year-old was struck on the head and neck with a machete.

Stuart  (Image: Police Scotland) The case called for a hearing today at the High Court in Glasgow.

Defence KCs Donald Findlay and Thomas Ross entered not-guilty pleas on behalf of each man.

Summers and McColl face other accusations, which they also deny.

This includes a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

(Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) It is claimed the duo did get rid of a weapon used in the alleged murder as well as disposing of a machete sheath, mobile phones and SIM cards.

Summers is said to have got a man to torch a van that he drove to the crime scene.

The accusation further states he climbed out of a window of a flat in Glasgow's East End when police turned up.

Among the other charges is an allegation Summers had earlier been involved in a fight with Mr McGeachie and that he threw a bottle at him as well as tried to punch him.

McColl is accused of assaulting an Alexander McGeachie with a pole and bottle elsewhere in Rutherglen.

Prosecutor Christopher Miller went on to state at the hearing: "The Crown is content with the dates and length of trial proposed."

Lord Clark set a trial which is scheduled to start in October 2025. The case could last 10 days.