Agony goes on for murdered man’s family
‘We need justice to help ease pain’
The family of murdered Jamie Connelly have said they will never be able to move on until the person responsible for his death is brought to justice.
David Strathern was dramatically cleared of stabbing Jamie Connelly on Friday, March 4, following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
He had denied stabbing the 28 year old, nicknamed Jamboy, through the heart at Greenhill Road, Rutherglen, on March 8, last year.
Almost a year to the day since Jamie’s death, a 15-person jury returned a verdict of not proven.
His family told the Reformer they were “disgusted” with the outcome. Sarah Connelly, Jamie’s younger sister, and father Thomas said the family were struggling to accept the verdict.
“I don’t think we will ever move on knowing that the person responsible is walking the streets,” Sarah said.
Thomas, who found it ‘very difficult’ to sit through the trial, said: “My son was a qualified plasterer and chef. They painted him out to be a thug drug dealer in court.
“How did it take 30 minutes to return a not proven verdict? It’s beyond me – that’s not even the time it takes to make a cup of tea. I can’t get my head around it, neither can my friends or family.”
Stating the trial did not reflect her brother as she knew him, Sarah said Jamie was a family man.
“He was just like my dad, he was
protective,” she said. “He always used to tell me that he was fine and that he’d always be there for me.
“I have a daughter and he was always so doting, everything was about her. We have another niece and nephew and he loved the three of them so much.
“Evie is three this year, she tells me her uncle is in the sky.”
Jamie’s death came one year after he began turning his life around, as he tried to turn his back on drugs and alcohol.
Four years earlier he had learned his mother was terminally ill with cancer and sought solace in drink.
Explaining Jamie was incredibly close to his mother, Sarah said she was always Jamie’s “pride and joy”. year off She the added: “He drink but washe a had relapses like everyone else.
He was trying to detox from drink and drugs. It was a self detox so if that doesn’t prove to everyone that he was trying to make life better then I don’t know what will. “He did the self rehab and trained to be a chef. He was trying to prove he could do something else, he wasn’t lying back, he did try and make a life for himself.”