From the Law killing to granting of home leave

2001 – Robbie McIntosh leaves school at the age of 15.

August 2 2001 – Dundee civil servant Anne Nicoll is found stabbed to death on Dundee Law.

August 8 2001 – Police arrest Robbie McIntosh in connection with the 34-year-old’s murder.

April 17 2002 – After an 11-day trial at the High Court in Forfar, McIntosh is found guilty of Ms Nicoll’s murder. He had denied the charge and lodged a special defence of incrimination against a 16-year-old friend.

Lord Bonomy ordered that he should be jailed without limit of time but recommended that about 15 years would be an appropriate period of incarceration for the then 16-year-old.

2003 – McIntosh’s appeal against his conviction is rejected.

2015 – McIntosh first period of temporary release approved by Scottish ministers.

2016 – McIntosh transferred to open prison at Castle Huntly and completes a number of short periods of home leave before it is withdrawn after he tests positive for a new psychoactive substance.

March 2017 – McIntosh’s home leave is reinstated without the knowledge of his community social worker or Police Scotland.

May 2017 – McIntosh granted home leave and stays at his mother’s house in Bridgfoot. Concerned neighbours see him smoking cannabis in the back garden at 4am.

August 2 2017 – On the 16th anniversary of his murder of Anne Nicoll, McIntosh is granted another period of home leave.

August 7 2017 – McIntosh makes his way from his mother’s house to Templeton Woods, where he brutally attacks Linda McDonald. He flees the scene after being disturbed by the Connor brothers. He returns to his mother’s house and is arrested shortly after.

October 25 2017 – McIntosh admits the attempted murder of Mrs McDonald when he appears at the High Court in Edinburgh.

February 22 – McIntosh is given a lifelong restriction of liberty order when he is sentenced at the High Court in Aberdeen.

November 26 2019 – Significant Case Review by the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements details a series of failings in the processes that led to McIntosh’s release on home leave.