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| Man jailed for dog chain killing | Man jailed for dog chain killing |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| A man who killed his girlfriend because he thought she was having an affair has been jailed for six years. | A man who killed his girlfriend because he thought she was having an affair has been jailed for six years. |
| David Craigie, 24, repeatedly hit Sonya Todd, 21, with a dog chain during the assault at their home in Methil, Fife. | David Craigie, 24, repeatedly hit Sonya Todd, 21, with a dog chain during the assault at their home in Methil, Fife. |
| The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the attack was believed to have lasted up to five hours. | The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the attack was believed to have lasted up to five hours. |
| Craigie, 24, was initially charged with murder but admitted culpable homicide in light of evidence that Ms Todd's diabetes was a factor in her death. | Craigie, 24, was initially charged with murder but admitted culpable homicide in light of evidence that Ms Todd's diabetes was a factor in her death. |
| Lord Kinclaven sentenced him to six years in prison, to be followed by three years' supervision. | Lord Kinclaven sentenced him to six years in prison, to be followed by three years' supervision. |
| The judge told Craigie there was no evidence that the injuries he inflicted during the assault in March would normally have led to death. | |
| 'Tragic loss' | |
| But he added: "The fact remains this was a sustained assault on Sonya Todd, a young woman of 21, who seems not to have fought back. | |
| "The consequence, albeit unintended, was the tragic loss of a young life." | |
| Ms Todd's father, George, questioned the length of the sentence and the decision to accept a plea to the reduced charge. | Ms Todd's father, George, questioned the length of the sentence and the decision to accept a plea to the reduced charge. |
| Mr Todd said his daughter, who had a six-year-old child, had been "an ordinary teenager" with a "happy-go-lucky" nature before she met Craigie. | |
| Sonya Todd was subjected to a prolonged assault | |
| But that changed when she got involved with him, her father said. | |
| "Everything changed, she wasn't the same lassie. She didn't get to have her own pals or anything." | |
| The court heard how the couple had a volatile relationship and had arguments which could become violent. | |
| On the day of the killing, neighbours were woken by a disturbance shortly after midnight and the noises continued periodically until about 0530 GMT. | |
| Her body was found by a neighbour, who also found Craigie with tears streaming down his face. | |
| He said: "I think I've killed her." | |
| Craigie admitted repeatedly striking Ms Todd with a dog chain, as well as scratching, biting, punching and kicking her during the lengthy ordeal. | |
| Defence QC Mark Stewart said his client was remorseful about what had happened. |