‘Friend’ jailed for murdering grandfather
A WOMAN has been jailed for at least 17 years after murdering a 60-yearold grandfather in his own home.
Seka Ritchie stabbed father-of-two Alexander Duncan to death at his flat in Primrose Street, Leith, after spending the night drinking with him in April last year.
His body was only discovered three days later and a murder investigation was launched.
Ritchie, 32, also known as Fitchie, was charged with murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice the following the month.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, she was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Police who investigated the murder said Ritchie and Mr Duncan had once been close, but had not seen each other for some time before the night of his death on April 2015.
Ritchie’s former girlfriend, Tracey McLean, 30, from Edinburgh, had also faced a murder charge but during the trial the Crown accepted her not guilty pleas.
Detective Chief Inspector Martin MacLean, who led the investigation into Mr Duncan’s death, said: “Mr Duncan offered friendship and after buying her a drink in a local pub, invited Seka Ritchie and her partner back to his home buying vodka and tobacco en 16, route for them all to share.
“Seka Ritchie betrayed his trust and friendship and, for reasons that she alone knows, she attacked and killed him in his own home in a manner that, the evidence suggests, was completely unexpected and against which he was unable to offer any resistance.
“I thank Mr Duncan’s son and daughter for their patience and assistance during the investigation and hope the conviction is something that helps them deal with what has happened.”