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Patrick Rae guilty of murdering Mary McLaren in Dundee | Patrick Rae guilty of murdering Mary McLaren in Dundee |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man has been convicted of raping and murdering a mother-of-three in Dundee. | A man has been convicted of raping and murdering a mother-of-three in Dundee. |
Patrick Rae, 41, had denied killing 34-year-old Mary McLaren following a night out at Fat Sams nightclub in the city in February 2010. | Patrick Rae, 41, had denied killing 34-year-old Mary McLaren following a night out at Fat Sams nightclub in the city in February 2010. |
However, he was sentenced to life - with a minimum of 20 years - after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. | However, he was sentenced to life - with a minimum of 20 years - after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. |
Rae was caught after CCTV images showed him dancing with Mrs McLaren and leaving the nightclub with her on the night she disappeared. | Rae was caught after CCTV images showed him dancing with Mrs McLaren and leaving the nightclub with her on the night she disappeared. |
Her body was found two weeks later on 10 March, hidden in undergrowth near the Ladywell roundabout in Dundee. | Her body was found two weeks later on 10 March, hidden in undergrowth near the Ladywell roundabout in Dundee. |
In his closing speech to the jury following the four-week trial, advocate depute David Young QC said Mrs McLaren died a violent death. | In his closing speech to the jury following the four-week trial, advocate depute David Young QC said Mrs McLaren died a violent death. |
Rae killed her by repeatedly punching her on the head and striking her head and body on the ground. | Rae killed her by repeatedly punching her on the head and striking her head and body on the ground. |
He also repeatedly struck her on the neck with a knife or similar instrument, before placing a piece of fabric round her throat and strangling her. | He also repeatedly struck her on the neck with a knife or similar instrument, before placing a piece of fabric round her throat and strangling her. |
Following Rae's conviction, Mr Young told the court the accused had 13 previous convictions including rape, attempted rape, aggravated sexual assault, assault occasioning actual body harm and false imprisonment. | |
'Persistently lied' | |
Judge Lord Tyre told Rae: "You preyed on a woman you met at a nightclub who by all accounts was already the worse for drink. | |
"When she left the nightclub you attached yourself to her when she was alone and the last image of her alive was at the Ladywell roundabout. | |
"Shortly after you violently raped and strangled her leaving her body to be found days later. | |
"You have persistently lied and adapted your story and you have shown no remorse for what you did. | |
"The horror and terror Mary must have experience during this attack can only be imagined." | |
Rae was also put on the sex offenders register for life. | |
At the time of her death, Mrs McLaren - who had three children aged 18, 15, and 11 - had been looking forward to becoming a grandmother. | At the time of her death, Mrs McLaren - who had three children aged 18, 15, and 11 - had been looking forward to becoming a grandmother. |
In a statement read out by Tayside Police family liaison officer det sgt Garry Fraser, the family said the verdict would not take away their pain or grief. | |
The statement added: "No sentence will stop the nightmares that we all have thinking about how Mary must have suffered at the hands of this man. | The statement added: "No sentence will stop the nightmares that we all have thinking about how Mary must have suffered at the hands of this man. |
"We miss Mary. We always will. She was at the heart of this family when she was with us and remains there now. | "We miss Mary. We always will. She was at the heart of this family when she was with us and remains there now. |
"She loved us. We love her still and cannot believe that she is no longer with us." | "She loved us. We love her still and cannot believe that she is no longer with us." |
The family thanked the jury in the case and said they had been overwhelmed by messages of support from the people of Dundee. | The family thanked the jury in the case and said they had been overwhelmed by messages of support from the people of Dundee. |
They added: "Patrick Rae has robbed us of a much-loved and loving daughter, wife and mother. | They added: "Patrick Rae has robbed us of a much-loved and loving daughter, wife and mother. |
"He also denied Mary the chance of holding the grandchild that she was so looking forward to welcoming into the world." | "He also denied Mary the chance of holding the grandchild that she was so looking forward to welcoming into the world." |
Following the verdict, Catriona Dalrymple, district procurator fiscal for Dundee, said "Patrick Rae today stands convicted of two of the worst crimes prosecutors can encounter. | Following the verdict, Catriona Dalrymple, district procurator fiscal for Dundee, said "Patrick Rae today stands convicted of two of the worst crimes prosecutors can encounter. |
"He committed a horrific attack against a defenceless woman, and in doing so took the life of a young wife and mother." | "He committed a horrific attack against a defenceless woman, and in doing so took the life of a young wife and mother." |