McGill was in jail and struck on day release

CONVICTED rapist Graham McGill was on day release

Joanne Cochrane looked at from prison when he brutally

how to extract the killer’s murdered mum-of-11 Mary.

DNA from the ligature that He followed her home, got

was wrapped three times into her flat and killed Mary

around Mary’s neck and by strangling her with a

knotted twice. dressing gown cord.

The material had The 58-year-old’s body

deteriorated but techniques was found six days later

in getting DNA had reached when her son Martin Cullen

what Cochrane described as went to visit. Mary was lying

“the gold standard”. on her back on her bed wearing a green dress with One of the two knots had

LONG COURT the ligature tightly wound been untied and tested, but around her neck three times. the other hadn’t been

STORY IN HER At the High Court in touched since Mary’s body Glasgow yesterday, McGill, 59, was found in 1984. was convicted of assaulting The double knot was Mary by strangling her with a opened and when the fabric ligature and murdering her inside was tested, scientists on September 26 or 27, 1984, found DNA from Mary and at her flat in Crathie Court, McGill. Partick, Glasgow. In 1988, he had boasted to

Judge Lord Burns told his ex-wife Suzanne Russell him: “I have to pronounce a of killing a woman. He said sentence of life imprisonment he had wanted to know what and will do so in due course.” it felt like to kill someone.

McGill, from Glasgow, will As he was led away from be sentenced on May 18 at the courtroom in handcuffs, the High Court in Aberdeen. McGill showed no emotion.

Prosecutor Alex Prentice He gave no evidence during QC revealed that at the time the trial, but denied he was of Mary’s murder, McGill, who the killer. worked as a fabricator, was Outside court, Mary’s son on day release from prison, Martin was asked if justice where he was serving a had been served. He said: six-year sentence for assault “Yes.” He was then asked if with intent to ravish and rape he was relieved. Martin again imposed in 1981. McGill was said, “Yes” before giving a 22 at the time. thumbs up.

Mr Prentice revealed McGill Detective Superintendent was also jailed for life in 1999 Suzanne Chow said: “Despite for a brutal assault with crimes occurring years ago, intent to ravish and was out there is always hope of on licence from that offence solving them one day. They when he was arrested and are never forgotten. charged with murder on “Mary’s family have December 4, 2019. waited a long time for justice

Jurors heard that in 1984 and I hope the verdict a major murder probe was provides some form of launched following Mary’s resolution for them. It is murder but no one was fitting to know that despite charged. the passage of time, justice

Over the years, police and has finally been served. scientists sought clues and a “In all case reviews, series of cold case probes families are uppermost in were launched. our minds and we work hard

The breakthrough came to present the best evidential when forensic scientists Dr case to ensure successful Nighean Stevenson and convictions.”