Paige killer out 4 years earlier
Outrage as John Leathem succeeds in having his sentence reduced for the savage murder of Paige Doherty, 15.
savage, frenzied and wicked” crime.
Rather than take his punishment, Leathem appealed against his sentence. And Mr Duguid used other high-profile murders to try to make the argument that his client had been harshly dealt with.
He noted the case of Alexander Pacteau, who bludgeoned student Karen Buckley to death then tried to dissolve her body in acid. He got a 23-year minimum term.
Leathem also tried to hide his victim’s body, but Mr Duguid claimed he left Paige where she would be easily discovered – in scrubland beside a busy road. He said Pacteau, in contrast, went to great lengths to try to destroy Karen’s remains.
The QC referred to the case of Robert Chalmers, who murdered 24-year-old Samantha Wright in 2009 then hid her body in a wheelie bin, where it remained for nine months.
Chalmers, who had previously killed a drinking buddy in 1973, also got a minimum sentence of 23 years.
Mr Duguid also used the case of Muslim extremist Tanveer Ahmed, who drove to Glasgow from England to murder peace-loving shopkeeper Asad Shah for his religious beliefs.
Ahmed got a 27-year minimum term, but Mr Duguid argued that both his and Pacteau’s cases contained more “numerous and significant aggravating features” than Leathem’s.
Mr Duguid said Leathem’s assault on Paige was “spontaneous” and “out of character”. He was married at the time and had a child, and had pled guilty early and expressed “genuine remorse”.
His arguments convinced the judges. Lord Turnbull said in their written judgment: “The length of the punishment part selected in this case was inconsistent with current sentencing practice and excessive.
“We shall quash the punishment part and substitute a period of 23 years.”
As they reduced Leathem’s sentence, the judges also condemned his crime. Lord Turnbull wrote: “As the presiding judge made clear in her sentencing statement, the appellant engaged in a brutal, savage and frenzied attack on a young defenceless child before attempting to cover up his actions.
“He committed a most appalling murder.”
Leathem was not in the courtroom in Edinburgh for his appeal hearing in December.
He watched the proceedings by video link from Dumfries jail, wearing a T-shirt that showed off the tattoos on his arms. He spoke only to confirm that he could hear the proceedings and showed no emotion as his lawyer made his case.
Clydebank MSP Gil Paterson of the SNP shared his constituents’ outrage over the ruling.
He said: “I am utterly astonished and disappointed. The crimes Paige’s murderer pled guilty to are those that nightmares are made of.
“To reduce the sentence for this merciless attack on a 15-year-old girl is unbelievable.
“The aftermath of Paige’s murder has been horrendous for her family. I can only imagine this will have a very serious negative impact on them and their recovery from this traumatic and tragic chapter in their lives.
“There is nothing I see which merits cutting four years off the murderer’s time behind bars. Paige’s friends are rightly furious.”
There are no words to describe how we feel. It’s heartbreaking
JUSTICE FOR PAIGE GROUP