'Sadistic' trio of killers jailed

The trio were branded "despicable" for their crime

Two men who murdered a father-of-four and a third convicted of his culpable homicide have been jailed.

Kevin Leslie, 24, and Colin Cowie, 22, were found guilty of Dean Jamieson's murder, while Shaun Paton, 20, was found guilty of the lesser charge.

The 30-year-old victim's body was found near Aberdeen in April after he was robbed, stripped and left to die.

Leslie and Cowie received life terms, with minimums of 20 and 18 years and Paton was jailed for 10 years.

Judge Lady Paton said: "To assault and rob a complete stranger, who was simply looking for a taxi home after a night out, was evil enough.

Dean's ill fortune was to have been unlawfully detained, driven to a remote location, tortured and murdered Jamieson family statement Read the family statement

"The continued attack on Mr Jamieson amounted to sadistic and sickening savagery, almost beyond comprehension.

"Mr Jamieson's family has been left with an irreplaceable loss and terrible grief. The sentences must reflect this."

Mr Jamieson's mother Jo said the killers were "despicable" after they were convicted last month.

The murder charge against a fourth accused, Colin Stewart, was dropped during the trial, which ran for more than five weeks.

The family said in a statement: "Dean's ill fortune was to have been unlawfully detained, driven to a remote location, tortured and murdered by Kevin Leslie and Colin Cowie who chose him as their victim at random without reason.

I hope the convictions of those involved in this truly appalling killing bring some comfort to Dean's family Det Supt Alan Smith Grampian Police

"Life should mean life, we would ask the Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson to listen and take note of the views of the victim's family."

The jury of 12 women and three men took four-and-a-half hours to reach their verdicts at the High Court in Aberdeen.

Mr Jamieson had been picked up by an unofficial taxi service run by Cowie before being attacked and left to die.

Grampian Police Det Supt Alan Smith said: "I hope the convictions of those involved in this truly appalling killing bring some comfort to Dean's family.

"One can only imagine what was going through his mind as he was robbed, then driven to a remote area at knifepoint and subjected to a cowardly attack which resulted in his death.

Mr Jamieson's body was found on the outskirts of Aberdeen

"That poor man was subjected to a frenzied, relentless attack, which was as humiliating and degrading as it was violent. Dean was abandoned all but naked on a remote hillside in a night of freezing snow."

The defence had argued that the men did not intend to kill Mr Jamieson but the Crown said the trio had shown a "wicked and reckless" disregard for his life.

Cleared Mr Stewart said Mr Jamieson had been picked up after flagging down a car driven by Cowie and had asked for a lift to his home in Kemnay, Aberdeenshire.

He said the group went to Elrick Hill, where Cowie ordered Mr Jamieson to take off some of his clothes. He said Mr Jamieson was then assaulted and left in a half-naked state.

The trial heard how a partially clothed Mr Jamieson tried to escape from his attackers.

Mr Stewart said Mr Jamieson ran down a rural path before falling over and being hit by Cowie.

Attack filmed

"He [Mr Jamieson] was not really saying much, he was just saying 'I want a lift home'," said Mr Stewart.

"That was the man's main intention, to go home to his wife and kids.

"Mr Jamieson tried to run but Mr Cowie hit him with a punch to the side of his face," he said.

As Mr Jamieson tried to flee he bumped into Leslie, who also hit him on the face, the witness said.

The court heard that Mr Jamieson was heading towards a car park when he fell over.

"Colin chased him down the road then started fighting with him," said Mr Stewart.

The court also heard claims that Cowie filmed himself jumping on Mr Jamieson's head and showed the footage on his mobile phone.