Man due in court over murder of scientist Dr Fortune Gomo in Dundee

A court appearance by a man charged with the murder of a scientist in Dundee has been postponed.

Police were called to South Road on July 5 last year after Dr Fortune Gomo was seriously injured.

The 39-year-old was treated by paramedics but was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives launched a murder investigation and arrested a 20-year-old man over Dr Gomo’s death.

Kyler Rattray was charged with murder and was remanded in custody after appearing at Dundee Sheriff Court.

Rattray was due to appear at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday. The appearance has been postponed.

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Dr Gomo was an environmental and water resources scientist and PhD graduate of the University of Dundee.

She had recently started a job with Scottish Water.

Professor Simon Parsons, director of environment planning and assurance at Scottish Water, said: “Everyone at Scottish Water, where Dr Fortune Gomo worked, is shocked and saddened by her death and we send our deepest sympathies to her family and friends.

“Fortune was an exceptional scientist and a senior service planner in our Water Resources Planning section based in Dundee where, having joined us in February, she had already become a highly valued and respected member of our team.

The attack happened on Dundee's South Road. — The attack happened on Dundee’s South Road. STV News

“We are supporting her colleagues at Scottish Water following this incident.”

Dr Gomo’s high school and university friend said her “brilliance in the classroom was only matched by her emotional intelligence”.

Angela Machonesa studied with Dr Gomo at Chinhoyi High School and the National University of Science and Technology, which are both in Zimbabwe, south-east Africa.

In a social media post, she said: “She was the kind of person you’d go to when you needed clarity, not just of mind, but of heart. She listened. She cared. She uplifted.

“No wonder she went on to earn her PhD. It was only natural. Her path was written in the stars long ago. To serve. To lead. To heal. And she was doing just that.

“But now, that dream, our Fortune’s dream, has been violently, senselessly stolen from us all.

She added: “A child will now grow up without the love and presence of a mother. A family will mourn a daughter who once lit up their home with hope and promise.”