Boasting killer jailed for life

Laura Milne was murdered by Stuart Jack in Aberdeen

A man who boasted on a mobile phone video that he enjoyed murdering a teenager then cutting up and hiding her body has been jailed for life.

Stuart Jack, 22, smiled as he spoke of killing charity worker Laura Milne, 19, and mutilating her body in Aberdeen.

Jack admitted murdering Ms Milne at a Union Street flat last year. He was jailed for a minimum of 18 years.

Debbie Buchan, 19, received nine years and four months, and Leigh Mackinnon, 18, nine years, for attempted murder.

Jack also admitted attempting to defeat the ends of justice by trying to cut off Ms Milne's head, legs and breast, cutting off her ear and hiding her body.

It is difficult to comprehend the evil that lay behind this attack Lord Woolman

Co-accused Buchan and Mackinnon both admitted attempted murder. They also admitted trying to hide the victim.

Judge Lord Woolman said: "The greatest tragedy is the premature and violent death of Laura Milne.

"This was a horrific and cruel assault on a defenceless young woman.

"This was a terrible crime which merits a sentence at the top end of the range. It is difficult to comprehend the evil that lay behind this attack."

The women remained impassive as they were taken down to the cells, but Jack shed tears.

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The family of Ms Milne said: "We are appalled that such a horrific crime has resulted in such a lenient sentence.

"They all played a part in Laura's death and, in our opinion, Debbie Buchan and Leigh Mackinnon should have had significantly higher sentences.

"Yet again the judicial system has let innocent victims down. It is no wonder we are experiencing increased levels of serious crime with the apparent lack of punishment."

They added: "No sentence will ever bring Laura back to us or erase from our minds the memory of what they did to her. We will have to live with this for the rest of our lives, Debbie Buchan and Leigh Mackinnon could be out walking the streets again in just six years."

The mobile phone recording was previously played to the High Court in Edinburgh.

In the video, Buchan was seen putting Ms Milne's face towards the camera and saying: "This is the new and improved Laura Milne."

Jack replied: "Yes, she certainly is."

Teenager Laura Milne was murdered in a flat in Union Street

Buchan asks: "Did you enjoy cutting her throat?"

Jack replied: "Aye."

In the days after the killing, the trio made various phone calls and sent text messages to family and friends confessing they had been involved in Ms Milne's death.

Their victim had been diagnosed with mild learning difficulties and was living at homeless accommodation in Aberdeen, where she was working as a volunteer in the kitchen.

Donald Findlay QC, counsel for Jack, said he had led a "nomadic and chaotic lifestyle" involving drink and drugs since the age of 15.

"Mr Jack is at a loss really to explain how it was that he allowed himself to be drawn into this matter that resulted in him doing those things for which he has accepted responsibility," said Mr Findlay.

"He's shocked at what he has done."

'Brings closure'

Mhairi Richards QC, for Buchan, described her as "an immature young girl who was unemployed and didn't have much to do with her time".

"She mixed with the wrong people and was easily led," said Ms Richards.

And Edgar Prais QC, defending MacKinnon, said she had punched Ms Milne five or six times, hit her with a bottle five times and kicked her in the body six or seven times.

This is a tragic case involving a vulnerable young lady who had clearly sought friendship from those who were ultimately convicted Det Chf Insp Mark Cooper Grampian Police

He said MacKinnon had been "swept up in a group momentum", fuelled by a cocktail of drink and drugs.

"She accepts she has to take responsibility for what was done by the group," he added.

Laura Milne was a volunteer with the Cyrenians homeless charity in Aberdeen.

A spokeswoman said: "The thoughts of the Cyrenians' staff are with Laura Milne's family. We hope this verdict brings them some kind of closure.

"The Cyrenians, as an organisation, are now looking to put this tragic situation behind us and look to the future."

Grampian Police Det Chf Insp Mark Cooper earlier said: "This is a tragic case involving a vulnerable young lady who had clearly sought friendship from those who were ultimately convicted."

Det Chf Insp Cooper said that the manner of death and the "harrowing scene" with which officers were faced had caused distress.