Murder squad cops say Shaun sentence too soft

Victim’s dad contacted by officers who voiced their disappointment

POLICE officers who investigated Shaun Woodburn’s death have expressed their dismay at the paltry four-year sentence handed down to his teenage killer.

The officers, part of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, contacted Shaun’s dad Kevin and said the team were “disappointed” with the outcome.

Kevin said: “Police officers have been in touch to say they’re disappointed with the sentence.

“The team aren’t happy given the work they put in over the months since Shaun died to help the prosecutors bring the case to trial.

“They wished us luck with the campaign and said they hope we’re successful in winning an appeal.”

Prosecutors are carrying out a review of the sentence handed down to his teenage killer and deciding whether to appeal it for being “unduly lenient”.

Yesterday, the Record revealed Lord Advocate James Wolffe has the power to personally intervene and order an appeal to be lodged by his prosecutors. Dad-of-one Shaun died after he was punched and kicked by a 17-year-old outside an Edinburgh pub on Hogmanay.

The attacker and his friends had gone on a violent rampage across the city before they arrived in Great Junction Street, Leith, and a fight started outside Gladstone’s pub.

The teen, who we can’t name, was originally charged with murder but this was reduced to culpable homicide during a trial at the High Court last month.

On Monday, Kevin and Shaun’s mum Denise Syme attended a meeting at the Crown Office to air their views on the trial and sentence.

Kevin said he is “tentatively hopeful” their pleas to have the sentence appealed will be successful.

Almost 70,000 people, including footballers, writers and politicians, have signed and shared the petition started by Kevin after the sentencing.

The Crown have until December 5 to lodge an appeal.