MSP Gil Paterson slams reduction of Paige Doherty murderer’s prison term

MSP Gil Paterson (SNP)

MSP Gil Paterson has responded to an appeal that saw four years taken off the prison sentence of Paige Doherty’s killer.

At the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, Lord Turnbull issued his judgement on the appeal by John Leathem – and reduced the sentence.

Leathem murdered the 15-year-old in a deli in Whitecrook, Clydebank on March 19 last year, and was sentenced to 27 years in prison.

A judge at the time described the murder as “savage and frenzied”.

Mr Paterson, the SNP MSP for Clydebank, slammed the ruling and told how it would have a serious impact on the family’s recovery

He said: “I am utterly astonished and disappointed the murderer of Paige Doherty has had his sentenced reduced by four years.

“The crimes he pled guilty to are those nightmares are made of. To reduce the sentence for this merciless attack on a 15-year-old girl is unbelievable.

“The aftermath of Paige’s murder has been horrendous for her family. I can only imagine this will a very serious negative impact on them and their recovery from this traumatic and tragic chapter in their lives.

“There is nothing I see which merits cutting four years off his time behind bars — Paige’s friends are rightly furious.”

ENDS