The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Outrage at reduction in sentence for Jill’ s killer
A“feral” killer who raped Jill Barclay and then burned her alive has had his prison sentence criticised at Holyrood.
Depraved loner Rhys Bennett, 23, was jailed for a minimum of 24 years on Wednesday, after appearing at the High Court in Edinburgh.
The Fife man, who had stalked his 47-year-old victim before unleashing a brutal sexually motivated attack on her, had earlier admitted all the charges against him.
But had it not been for the fencing labourer’s guilty pleas and being under the age of 25, Bennett would have been imprisoned for at least 29 years by Lord Arthurson.
Shadow community safety minister Russell Findlay, a Scottish Conservative MSP, hit out at the sentencing guidelines, which were being followed by the judge.
During First Minister’s Questions yesterday, he told the Scottish Parliament: “The judge described the 23-year-old’s crimes as ‘medieval in their barbarity’ yet his prison sentence was reduced due to new under-25 sentencing guidelines.
“Can Humza Yousaf tell the people of Scotland whether he thinks these should apply in every single case no matter how wicked or barbaric the crime?”
Mr Yousaf responded: “These are not matters that are decisions for the first minister.
“They are rightly left to the independent judiciary and it must always be thus, even in the most heinous and despicable cases such as the case of Jill Barclay.
“Her family will undoubtedly have community and friends reeling from the barbarity of that sickening and medieval act.
“But it can never be the case that politicians, let alone government
ministers, interfere in the sensitive decisions that are made by the judiciary.”
The SNP leader added: “Sentencing guidelines are taken forward by the independent sentencing council.
“The cabinet secretary for justice and home affairs in her regular engagement with the sentencing council has asked for more information around when those regular reviews of sentencing guidance will take place.
“I’m sure she’ll be happy to keep the member informed discussions.”
The Press and Journal has asked the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) if it plans to appeal Bennett’s sentence.
A Crown Office official said it was not appropriate for the prosecution service to comment on a sentencing decision taken by a member of the judiciary.
Popular former Hazlehead Academy pupil Jill Barclay died in the grounds of derelict residential premises at Farburn Gatehouse, Dyce, on September 17 last year.
Bennett, who was described by his own defence solicitor advocate as a “weird and different young man”, had waited or hidden at the scene, ready to launch the attack.
Iain McSporran KC added that his client, recently diagnosed with a “mental disorder” called autism spectrum disorder, had “no recollection of what happened or why”. of those
Now, a Labour Aberdeen City councillor, who is a founding member of women’s safety group Aberdeen Women’s Alliance (AWA), has spoken out against the horrifying atrocity.
Sandra Macdonald branded Jill Barclay’s killer “off the scale in terms of evil”.
Ms Macdonald, a councillor for the George Street and Harbour ward, said: “We have a duty to consider what more we can do to make women’s lives safer and more secure.
“We don’t ever want to see that again. It was a real shock to us here in Aberdeen.”
Ms Macdonald, like many people across the northeast and the rest of Scotland, has struggled to process the horrific murder.
“Any sentence could never be long enough for what he did,” she said. “I’m glad the court recognised the enormity of it.”