Family praises justice as teen killers get life

A grieving brother said justice has been done after a teenage gang were given sentences totalling 52 years for the savage murder of a pensioner in his own home.

Alasdair Forsyth, 67, suffered 80 injuries after he was attacked with a hammer, wrench and screwdriver at his flat in Prestonfield, Edinburgh, in February last year.

At the High Court in Edinburgh on Friday, Kerin McMillan, 20, was ordered to serve at least 18 years, his brother Aron, 17, was given a minimum of 17 years and three months, and friend Levi Hunter, 16, at least 17 years.

Alasdair’s brother Ewen, who attended court to see the three killers locked up, said: “I feel that justice has been done for Alasdair and for the family. He didn’t deserve what happened to him and we have been badly affected by it all.

“We listened with great interest to the judge’s comments at the sentencing and felt as a family that he dealt with the case very fairly.

“He went out of his way to mention Alasdair by name on several occasions and we appreciated that. We will try to move on from here.”

We told last month how Alasdair studied sociology and politics at the University of Edinburgh where he was a contemporary of future Prime Minister

Gordon Brown. Alasdair graduated and went to Iran to work in research. He left that to tour the world for three years and visited China, Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan before returning to Scotland.

The gang who attacked him are understood to have connections to the street in which Alasdair lived and were known to him.

All three denied murdering Alasdair, despite one stating “it was for money” and “we were all just out our nut” during a phone call recorded at a young offenders’ institution.

The three were also apprehended by police at the scene and were convicted following a trial.

Trial judge Lord Uist told the three murderers: “Mr Forsyth suffered the most terrible injuries.

“The attack on Mr Forsyth was a planned robbery in which each of you took a tool to be used as a weapon and battered him to death in his own home.”

Alasdair Forsyth