MSP to raise Shaun scandal at Holyrood
THE campaign to win justice for tragic Shaun Woodburn is heading to the Scottish Parliament.
A Tory MSP has promised he will use First Minister’s Questions this week to raise the scandal of the soft sentence meted out to the teen thug who killed Shaun.
Miles Briggs spoke out as pressure mounted on Lord Advocate James Wolffe to instruct prosecutors to appeal against the “insulting” sentence.
Former junior footballer Shaun, 30, died after he was attacked by the 17-year-old yob outside an Edinburgh pub early on New Year’s Day.
The attacker, who can’t be named because of his age, punched Shaun, who died in hospital of brain injuries.
He was convicted of culpable homicide and his trial heard he and a gang of others had attacked a series of people across the capital on Hogmanay.
More than 55,000 people have signed a petition created by Shaun’s dad, Kevin, calling for an appeal.
Lothian Region MSP Briggs said: “This was an utterly needless act of violence and I think most people would agree this sentence is far too lenient.
“If someone is convicted of a brutal killing like this, they need to face the appropriate punishment.”
Shaun’s family have written letters to the Lord Advocate, Nicola Sturgeon and Justice Minister Michael Matheson.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “The impact of the loss of a loved one is devastating and our sympathies go out to the family and friends of Shaun.
“We have received correspondence from the family and a response will be sent very soon.”