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Robert Buczek sentenced for Eleanor Whitelaw murder | Robert Buczek sentenced for Eleanor Whitelaw murder |
(35 minutes later) | |
A 24-year-old man who murdered an 85-year-old woman after an attack in her Edinburgh home must serve at least 20 years in jail, a judge has said. | A 24-year-old man who murdered an 85-year-old woman after an attack in her Edinburgh home must serve at least 20 years in jail, a judge has said. |
Robert Buczek killed Eleanor Whitelaw, known as Norah, by stabbing her seven times in the neck with a pair of scissors on 11 July 2014. | Robert Buczek killed Eleanor Whitelaw, known as Norah, by stabbing her seven times in the neck with a pair of scissors on 11 July 2014. |
The pensioner died in hospital 17 days after the "brutal" attack. | The pensioner died in hospital 17 days after the "brutal" attack. |
Buczek, a Polish national, had denied attacking Mrs Whitelaw in her Morningside home. | Buczek, a Polish national, had denied attacking Mrs Whitelaw in her Morningside home. |
It emerged last month that Buczek already had a previous conviction for assaulting and robbing another pensioner in Poland when he was only 14. | It emerged last month that Buczek already had a previous conviction for assaulting and robbing another pensioner in Poland when he was only 14. |
Sentencing him for the Morningside murder, judge Lord Matthews said: "On the 11 July 2014, a hot summer's day, Eleanor Whitelaw offered you, a stranger, some water, and told you that her husband would be back with some biscuits. | |
"It may be that they (the family) can perhaps draw some comfort, even take pride, in the fact that Mrs Whitelaw's last act was to extend a helping hand, but they will surely never come to terms with the fact that it was cruelly turned aside." | |
The judge said Buczek had not shown one "iota of remorse" for the "brutal and senseless" crime. | |
During sentencing at the High Court in Stirling, Buczek was given a mandatory life term and told he must serve at least 20 years before he could apply for parole. | |
Nicky Patrick, procurator fiscal for High Court cases in the East of Scotland, said: "Robert Buczek carried out a cowardly brutal attack on a vulnerable pensioner that has left family and friends devastated at the loss of a loved one. | |
"Taking the life of another is the most serious crime and must therefore come with the most serious consequences as today's sentence demonstrates." | |
The court had earlier heard that during the attack on Mrs Whitelaw, in her Morningside Grove home, the 85-year-old fell to the ground, fracturing her skull. | |
Labourer Buczek then dragged her along the hallway and dumped her in another room. | Labourer Buczek then dragged her along the hallway and dumped her in another room. |
He then prowled round the house rummaging in cupboards and drawers before leaving with an envelope of stamps and a box containing spoons. | He then prowled round the house rummaging in cupboards and drawers before leaving with an envelope of stamps and a box containing spoons. |
The trial heard from forensic experts who found DNA matching Buczek's on a pair of bloodstained scissors and a water bottle. | The trial heard from forensic experts who found DNA matching Buczek's on a pair of bloodstained scissors and a water bottle. |
During evidence, the 24-year-old told the jury he had never been to the house and had "no idea" why the scissors and bottle with his DNA were found there. | During evidence, the 24-year-old told the jury he had never been to the house and had "no idea" why the scissors and bottle with his DNA were found there. |
However, a jury of 10 men and five women returned a unanimous guilty verdict in February. | However, a jury of 10 men and five women returned a unanimous guilty verdict in February. |
Mrs Whitelaw's son, Professor Bruce Whitelaw, is head of developmental biology at the Roslin Institute, where Dolly the Sheep was cloned. | |
Det Ch Insp Keith Hardie, of Police Scotland, said: "I share the view of the family who don't even consider him to be a human being. | |
"They don't like to consider that another human being was able to do that." | |
Mr Hardie said Buczek had intended to rob Mrs Whitelaw, but added "we'll probably never know" why he killed her. | |
He said: "It makes it even more despicable that Mrs Whitelaw was offering the hand of human kindness to Buczek." |
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