Jailed for 46 years... teen thugs who killed twice in just 36 hours
Pair stabbed victim then went on shopping spree
A PAIR of ‘ highly dangerous’ teenagers who murdered two men in separate attacks during a violent crime spree have been sentenced to 46 years in prison. Andrew Moran and Paul Erskine left pensioner Harry Reekie drenched in blood after he was stabbed, bound and robbed in his own home.
The 19-year-olds then went shopping for designer clothes after stealing cash from Mr Reekie, who died later of his injuries.
Within 36 hours they then murdered Steven Mitchell, 31, who was knifed to death at a house yards from Mr Reekie’s home in Bathgate, West Lothian.
But the pair were caught for Mr Mitchell’s killing after footprints from their new trainers were left at the scene.
Yesterday the men were handed life sentences at the High Court in Edinburgh. Moran was told he must serve at least 24 years in prison, while Erskine was handed a minimum of 22 years.
Judge Lord Kinclaven described the case as ‘tragic’. He told the killers: ‘There is no alternative to a life sentence. No other method of dealing with you is appropriate.’
The judge ordered that the teenagers be detained in a young offenders institution.
During the trial prosecutors said that both victims had been exposed to ‘needless and grotesque’ violence.
The pair broke into Mr Reekie’s home at 3am on September 16 last year. The pensioner woke to find the hooded duo in his living room after they clambered through an open window.
Mr Reekie had moved to Scotland to help care for his terminally ill brother and had himself battled cancer. He was then put through an ‘unimaginable’ ordeal as Moran ordered him to ‘sit there and shut up,’ before demanding £20,000.
Prosecutor Angela Gray said: ‘Harry Reekie told him he did not know what he was talking about.’ She s ai d Moran’s response was to try to cut off the victim’s ear. Mr Reekie was also stabbed as Moran ordered Erskine to hunt for cash.
He then bound the pensioner’s mouth and wrists with tape. Mr Reekie was left bleeding in a chair, while the pair continued to rifle through the house looking for cash.
Mr Reekie then tried to offer the keys to his car hoping the men might leave, but Moran
‘Needless and grotesque violence’
stabbed him again. While the pensioner tried to get help, he was slashed across the legs.
The teenagers eventually left with £400 and several mobile phones. Mr Reekie was found ‘saturated in blood’ by his neighbour, George Campbell, who had gone downstairs after hearing cries for help. Tape had also been wrapped tightly around the pensioner’s neck.
Mr Reekie was able to identify his attackers, but died in hospital. When interviewed by police he said: ‘He [Moran] was getting his fun out of stabbing me.’
The killers used money taken from the wounded victim to go shopping only hours before attacking their second victim.
Mr Mitchell was savagely beaten and suffered more than a dozen stab wounds, including one to the heart, in the early hours of September 17. He was also battered with a hammer, before his mutilated body was found by his sister.
Moran and Erskine were seen walking from the area. After what prosecutors termed a ‘ghoulish 36 hours’, the pair enjoyed a McDonald’s meal together.
Erskine’s defence counsel, Ian Duguid, QC, said: ‘He was on a cocktail of drugs and alcohol.’
Following the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Kenny Graham, said the killers had shown ‘absolutely no remorse’ for their ‘evil crime’.
He added: ‘In the absence of any explanation, it is reasonable to infer they are both highly dangerous men who displayed no regard for their victims.’