Limbs in bin killer’s appeal bid rejected

Claimsof a miscarriage of justice thrown out

A criminal who repeatedly stabbed a mum of three before dismembering her remains has failed to have his conviction for murder quashed.

Steven Jackson,41, instructed lawyers to go to the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh and argue that he had fallen victim to a miscarriage of justice.

The killer was handed a life sentence at the High Court in Livingston in January 2017 for killing Kimberley MacKenzie in Montrose, Angus on October 27 2015.

Jurors at his trial heard how Jackson used two knives, a hammer and a large paint scraper when he assaulted 37-year-old Kimberley.

He struck her over the head at least 11 times and stabbed her more than 40 times during a frenzied attack.

The day following the brutal assault, Jackson chopped up her body in the bath and with the assistance of Michelle Higgins, 29, dumped the body parts in four bins in Montrose.

Higgins, of Montrose, was jailed for eight years for helping to dispose of Kimberley’s body.

Yesterday, defence advocate Donald Findlay QC told appeal judges Lord Carloway, Lord Brodie and Lord Drummond Young that his client’s conviction was unsafe.

Mr Findlay told the court that a witness who gave evidence during Jackson’s trial had given evidence against him which was irrelevant to the proceedings.

The lawyer told the court that, despite the evidence being irrelevant, it could have prejudiced jurors against Jackson.

This was because the evidence may have portrayed Jackson as being somebody who was likely to commit crime.

Mr Findlay told appeal judges that the law required Lady Rae, the judge who presided over the trial, to stop the trial.

But the advocate said that because Lady Rae hadn’t abandoned the trial, jurors could have became prejudiced against his client.

He argued that the judge’s inaction created a miscarriage of justice against Jackson.

However, prosecution lawyer Ashley Edwards QC argued that Lady Rae acted correctly.

The court heard that the judge told jurors to disregard the irrelevant evidence given by the witness.

The Crown argued that the actions taken during the trial eliminated the potential for a miscarriage of justice.

Ms Edwards added: “I invite your lordships to refuse this appeal.”

The judges agreed with the submissions made by Ms Edwards.

Lord Carloway added: “The appeal is refused.”

Steven Jackson, left, was convicted of murdering Kimberley MacKenzie, right, and dismembering her remains. Lord Carloway yesterday rejected his appeal against the conviction.

Police investigating the murder back in 2015.