Mother 'disgusted' by appeal ruling

Ms Sturton's flat in Aberdeen

The mother of a murdered Aberdeen care worker said she is disgusted at three appeal court judges' decision to uphold an appeal against sentence by the young woman who killed her daughter.

The judges have ruled that High Court judge Lord Marnoch "overreacted" in recommending that Aberdeen murderer Pamela Gourlay should serve at least 14 years in jail before being considered for parole.

Pamela Gourlay was sentenced to life last year for murdering her young Aberdeen neighbour Melanie Sturton with a knife.

The trial judge Lord Marnoch described it as "a crime of almost unimaginable depravity" and recommended Gourlay, now aged 23, should serve a minimum of 14 years in jail.

Pamela Gourlay: Received a life sentence

But three appeal court judges decided in August that her appeal against sentence should be upheld.

Lord Coulsfield, sitting with Lord MacLean and temporary Judge Edward Bowen QC ruled in her favour.

At the time Lord Coulsfield said: "We have decided we shall quash the recommendation of 14 years minimum. We shall give reasons later."

In their written decision now published, they say there was nothing about Gourlay's previous conduct to suggest she might undertake such an extraordinary assault, and they suspect drugs played a part.

The judges ruled that Lord Marnoch could be seen to have overreacted in his sentence recommendation.

However, Melanie's mother Susan Patrick said she was disgusted by the success of Gourlay's appeal.