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| Teenager convicted of fire murder | Teenager convicted of fire murder |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A teenager who killed his girlfriend by dousing her in petrol and setting her alight has been found guilty of murder. | |
| Stewart Blackburn, 18, was convicted on a unanimous verdict after a 10-day trial at the High Court in Livingston. | Stewart Blackburn, 18, was convicted on a unanimous verdict after a 10-day trial at the High Court in Livingston. |
| His girlfriend Jessica McCagh, 17, died in hospital on 25 April after the attack at the Arbroath flat she shared with Blackburn. | His girlfriend Jessica McCagh, 17, died in hospital on 25 April after the attack at the Arbroath flat she shared with Blackburn. |
| He denied murder, but had admitted culpable homicide. Sentence was deferred for background reports. | |
| The judge Lord Bracadale said Blackburn had shown a degree of wickedness that would leave all right-thinking people deeply disturbed. | The judge Lord Bracadale said Blackburn had shown a degree of wickedness that would leave all right-thinking people deeply disturbed. |
| Prosecutor Frank Mulholland QC described Blackburn's crime as a "barbaric and evil act against a defenceless young woman". | Prosecutor Frank Mulholland QC described Blackburn's crime as a "barbaric and evil act against a defenceless young woman". |
| He really showed no concern about Jessica whatsoever. He changed his story several times. It was quite clear he told a number of lies Det Insp Ian WalesTayside Police | He really showed no concern about Jessica whatsoever. He changed his story several times. It was quite clear he told a number of lies Det Insp Ian WalesTayside Police |
| The court heard evidence that suggested Blackburn had poured petrol over his victim, set it alight and prevented Jessica escaping from the blaze in the bedroom. | The court heard evidence that suggested Blackburn had poured petrol over his victim, set it alight and prevented Jessica escaping from the blaze in the bedroom. |
| He had claimed that the fire started from burning embers dropping from a cannabis cigarette. | He had claimed that the fire started from burning embers dropping from a cannabis cigarette. |
| But expert witnesses told the court that was very unlikely and produced evidence to indicate the petrol must have been lit by a naked flame. | But expert witnesses told the court that was very unlikely and produced evidence to indicate the petrol must have been lit by a naked flame. |
| Speaking after the verdict, Tom Dysart, area procurator fiscal for Tayside, said it was a crime that had "provoked outrage" in Arbroath and across Scotland. | |
| "Jessica's family and friends not only have to live with her tragic loss, but also to carry the knowledge of the terrible circumstances in which she died. | |
| "I hope that they can take some comfort from the jury's verdict, and from the fact that Stewart Blackburn has now been brought to justice." | |
| Det Insp Ian Wales of Tayside Police said police officers heard screaming coming from the close when they arrived at the scene. | Det Insp Ian Wales of Tayside Police said police officers heard screaming coming from the close when they arrived at the scene. |
| When they entered they found Jessica's father and another man trying to pull Jessica out of the flat, which was heavily engulfed in smoke. | |
| Some evidence centred on whether the bedroom door had been held closed | |
| "Quite horrific circumstances. Jessica was pulled out from the flat and quickly taken to Ninewells Hospital where sadly she succumbed to her injuries later that day," he said. | "Quite horrific circumstances. Jessica was pulled out from the flat and quickly taken to Ninewells Hospital where sadly she succumbed to her injuries later that day," he said. |
| Det Insp Wales said Blackburn showed "no concern about Jessica whatsoever". | Det Insp Wales said Blackburn showed "no concern about Jessica whatsoever". |
| "He changed his story several times. It was quite clear he told a number of lies. | "He changed his story several times. It was quite clear he told a number of lies. |
| "His theory about how the fire started changed and changed and changed until on the Sunday evening he admitted he had thrown the petrol can at Jessica. | "His theory about how the fire started changed and changed and changed until on the Sunday evening he admitted he had thrown the petrol can at Jessica. |
| "That was a deliberate act. There is no way that was an accident," he said. | "That was a deliberate act. There is no way that was an accident," he said. |
| Several people had been involved in the efforts to try to save Jessica's life. | Several people had been involved in the efforts to try to save Jessica's life. |
| Neighbour Denise Stephenson said: "I couldn't get close enough on the other side to see her, which was maybe just as well because of the way she was badly burnt. | Neighbour Denise Stephenson said: "I couldn't get close enough on the other side to see her, which was maybe just as well because of the way she was badly burnt. |
| "She had the white cover from the paramedics round her at that time and her dad was beside her." | "She had the white cover from the paramedics round her at that time and her dad was beside her." |
| She described Blackburn as being violent and said she often heard him arguing with Jessica. | She described Blackburn as being violent and said she often heard him arguing with Jessica. |
| "He was pretty vicious, but I didn't expect him to go to the lengths that he did," she added. | "He was pretty vicious, but I didn't expect him to go to the lengths that he did," she added. |
| "Poor Jessica." | "Poor Jessica." |