Tributes paid to talented Stewart

TRIBUTES have been paid to a chef killed in a burning flat in the Grange as a man charged with his murder appeared in court.

Family members said Stewart Taylor was "deeply loved", with relatives and friends left "completely devastated" by his death on Monday morning.

His grandmother, Audrey Forsyth, said he dreamed of becoming a top chef and once worked under world-renowned chef Michel Roux snr.

She said: "He loved working for the Roux family and was very proud of the certificate he got for it.

"When he walked into the room it was like a ray of sunshine."

Meanwhile, the owner of the Maison Bleue restaurant in the Old Town, where Mr Taylor had worked since September, described the 33-year-old as a "wonderful young guy".

Yesterday, Frank Moore appeared on petition at Edinburgh Sheriff Court charged with the murder of Mr Taylor, and the attempted murder of Lynsey Methven, 30, who was violently attacked during the incident in Chalmers Crescent.

No plea or declaration was made on behalf of the 43-year-old and the case was continued for further inquiry. Moore, from Newtongrange, was remanded in custody.

Ms Methven was pulled from the burning flat after the blaze was started at around 7am on Monday. She was later put into a coma by doctors at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary before undergoing plastic surgery to severe facial wounds.

Mr Taylor died at the scene, and detectives believe he suffered a severe blow to the head before the fire broke out.

A statement released by Mr Taylor's family read: "Anyone who knew Stewart will understand the indescribable loss we have suffered.

"He was deeply loved by his family and many friends, who have all been left completely devastated by his death.

"We will remember him for his positive outlook in life and his desire to do the best in his career as a chef.

"This tragic loss will leave a huge hole in our family, but we will cherish the happy memories we have."

Dean Gassabi, the owner of Maison Bleue in Victoria Street, paid tribute to his late employee, who was originally from Aberdeen. He said: "He was a wonderful young guy and we are all going to miss him so much.

"He was such a talented chef and one of the best I have ever worked with. We are all in shock and the restaurant was closed yesterday and today.

"You could not find a nicer guy. He was so happy here and just loved his work."

Kevin Shand, 33, who went to school with Mr Taylor at Oldmachar Academy and formerly shared an Aberdeen flat with him, said: "Stewart was a really great guy and I'm so sorry to hear this has happened.

"We worked together at the Q Brasserie at the top of Union Street in the mid-1990s, then he went down to the Lake Hotel in the Trossachs.

"I got a call saying they were short of a chef so I went down there and we lived together again for a while. He was just a really decent guy."

Last night, two vans remained outside the block of flats in Chalmers Crescent while white-suited forensic officers continued their examination of the property.