The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Limbs in the bin killer Jackson to appeal sentence
Murderer of mum-of -three was slammed for lack of remorse
Heartless killer Steven Jackson is preparing to mount an appeal against his conviction and life sentence for the limbs in the bin killing of Angus mother-of-three Kim MacKenzie.
The murderer was ordered to serve at least 26 years behind bars for the horrific 2015 slaying of his ex-girlfriend, who he then butchered in a bathtub before walking the streets of Montrose with parts of the 37-year-old’s body in a suitcase and child’s rucksack.
His girlfriend, Michelle Higgins, was jailed for eight years for attempting to defeat the ends of justice after helping him dispose of the corpse.
A procedural hearing has been set for next month when it is expected a date will be set for 41-year-old Jackson’s full appeal.
He was slammed by sentencing judge Lady Rae for his lack of remorse.
Angus killer Steven Jackson has been granted the right to appeal his conviction and life sentence for the brutal murder of Montrose mum Kim MacKenzie.
A hearing is scheduled to take place in Edinburgh next month which will set out the timetable for the full hearing before three senior judges for the 41-year-old, who was ordered to serve a minimum of 26 years for the horrific killing which shocked Angus.
Jackson battered his 37-year-old former girlfriend with a hammer before stabbing her dozens of times at a flat in Montrose in October 2015.
The following day the killer chopped up Ms MacKenzie in a bath and, with help from his girlfriend Michelle Higgins, dumped parts of the mum-of-three’s body in bins across the town.
Along with Jackson, Higgins was convicted of attempting to defeat the ends of justice over the efforts to dispose of the corpse.
CCTV captured the pair walking through the streets of the Angus town with parts of their victim in a green suitcase and child’s rucksack.
Higgins was sentenced to eight years in prison for her part in the appalling crime, after claiming she had become involved because she was frightened of her murderer boyfriend.
Sentencing judge Lady Rae described the pair’s actions as “despicable and callous”.
She also condemned Jackson, who is understood to be serving his life term at Saughton jail, for a complete lack of remorse over the murder.
He was on several bail orders at the time of the killing and boasted about what he had done.
The High Court jury heard horrific evidence of how he struck Ms MacKenzie with the hammer around 10 times before inflicting some 40 stab wounds, many while she was still alive.
In February, The Courier revealed Jackson’s intention to fight both his conviction and sentence and it has now been confirmed that the next stage of the appeal process will take place within weeks.
The appeal bid moved forward in May, when a single judge accepted notification of the appeal over both conviction and sentence.
A procedural hearing has now been scheduled for July 12, again before a single judge.
That sitting is likely to decide when the full appeal hearing, held in Edinburgh before at least three judges, will take place. A range of options are available to the appeal judges, from rejecting the appeal on both grounds to ordering a retrial in the case.