A person who murdered a susceptible lady has died behind bars – taking the key of the place {the teenager}’s stays are to his grave.
Edward Cairney, 82, died at HMP Edinburgh on Sunday, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has confirmed.
The pensioner had been sentenced to life alongside companion Avril Jones for the homicide of Margaret Fleming.
Ms Fleming, 19, who had studying difficulties, was final seen round December 1999 but it surely didn’t grow to be obvious she was lacking till October 2016.
Cairney and Jones, her supposed carers, have been arrested a yr later.
In 2019, the pair have been discovered responsible of homicide and perverting the course of justice and have been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimal time period of 14 years.
Jones was additionally convicted of fraudulently claiming £182,000 in advantages by pretending Ms Fleming was nonetheless alive.
Ms Fleming’s physique has by no means been discovered regardless of painstaking searches of their residence in Inverkip, Inverclyde.
During Cairney and Jones’ sentencing, decide Lord Matthews mentioned: “Only you two know the place her stays are.
“That remains a source of immense grief as far as her mother is concerned.
“It appears apparent that the motive for the homicide and canopy up was monetary.”
A courtroom heard Ms Fleming had moved in with Cairney and Jones when she was a teen following the loss of life of her father after these closest to her reportedly “didn’t want her”.
By October 1999, the family – mentioned to have monetary troubles – was amassing her advantages.
Prosecutors alleged that Ms Fleming was murdered in some unspecified time in the future between December 1999 and January 2000.
The Crown prompt it was “tempting” for the couple to have the cash however not the “inconvenience” of taking care of her.
Both Cairney and Jones have been mentioned to have “literally got away with murder for 16 years” and devised an “elaborate scheme” to hide her disappearance.
As police zoned in on the couple, their fabricated tales to clarify Ms Fleming’s absence turned more and more “farcical” as they tried to reconcile claims she was each working as a gangmaster and able to travelling abroad, and that she was somebody with main difficulties requiring a number of advantages.
Following their conviction, Detective Superintendent Paul Livingstone mentioned on what would have been Ms Fleming’s birthday: “It’s very important that she is given the funeral she deserves and for her family to be able to pay their respects to her.
“I’d say once more to Eddie Cairney and Avril Jones – your lies have caught up with you, so now do the first rate factor and let Margaret’s household know what has occurred to her.”
On Tuesday, the SPS mentioned: “Edward Cairney, 82, a prisoner at HMP Edinburgh has died on 15 October 2023.
“He was convicted at Glasgow High Court in 2019.
“Police Scotland have been advised and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
“A Fatal Accident Inquiry will probably be held in the end.”
Source: information.sky.com”