Killer who stabbed teenager 61 times says jail term unfair
Murderer argues for reduction on basis he did not dismember body
A FORMER shopkeeper who murdered a teenager before dumping her body by a road claimed he did not deserve to be jailed for 27 years because of the fact he did not dismember her.
About 30 members of victim Paige Doherty’s family were in the public gallery at the Court of Criminal Appeal Edinburgh to witness a QC representing her killer John Leathem compare the sentence unfavourably with that given to another notorious killer.
Paige, of Clydebank, was stabbed 61 times, including 43 to the head and neck and 85 further lacerations as she tried to fight him off before she was dumped near the Great Western Road.
Leathem, 32, had carried out the attack on the 15-year-old schoolgirl at his deli in the town in March.
Yesterday, the tattooed inmate watched the appeal proceedings via an internet connection linked to the court from Dumfries Prison wearing a T-shirt.
He spoke only to confirm his name and showed no emotion as his QC Ian Duguid pointed out that killer, Alexander Pacteau, was only jailed for 23 years for the murder of Irish student Karen Buckley last year in Glasgow – by the same judge, Lady Rae.
Pacteau was sentenced to 23 years for the killing last year. He had attacked in his car as she was on a night out with friends and then attempted to dispose of the body in a barrel of chemicals.
Mr Duguid said his client’s actions were “no comparison” and suggested Mr Leathem had said he dumped Paige’s body deliberately in a spot where it would quickly be found.
He added: “He never tried to dismember or destroy this girl’s body. He took it to a deposition site that, he indicated, he thought it would quickly be discovered. It is no comparison to the actions of Pacteau.”
Mr Duguid added: “This appeal focuses on a point of law. The punishment part of the sentence is excessive.”
Judges Lady Dorrian, Lord Bracadale and Lord Turnbull heard Mr Duguid claim that the judge at his trial, Lady Rae should have followed the example of judges in other similar cases and imposed a lesser sentence. He received his sentence in March.
During proceedings, Mr Duguid told the appeal judges that the requirement for his client to serve at least 27 years before applying for parole was legally inconsistent with other cases.
Prosecution lawyer Iain McSporran said trial jurors heard that a post mortem examination showed Paige was “conscious and able to move for part of the attack”.
The trial had heard Leathem’s claim that at the deli, Paige threatened to report him for indecently touching her when he refused to give her a job. The trial heard there was no evidence to back this up.
Mr Duguid said a member of Leathem’s family was on the sex offenders register and his client had seen the issues it caused.
However, Mr Duguid said he understood the way Paige’s family felt about his client. They have criticised the date of the appeal hearing so close to Christmas.
The judges are to make decision at a later date. a