Anger over killer's treatment

Scott Fraser was brutally beaten in 1996 after a party and died near his family's home in Falkirk.

His family are seeking a meeting with Justice Minister Jim Wallace to protest that his killer has been allowed to marry, father a child and take driving lessons before applying for parole.

In response Mr Wallace said he would meet the family because of the exceptional circumstances of the case.

Scott Fraser was just 26, and the father of a three-year-old boy, when he was attacked by Andrew Halliday, 14, and his brother Paul.

Scott's family said the beating was so bad that the imprint of a trainer was left on his face.

Andrew Haillday was sent to a secure unit in Angus but since then has been allowed out to attend his brother's wedding, has fathered a child and married, and been given leave to go to college.

Mr Fraser's body was found in a lane in Carronshore which has now become a shrine to the family.

They asked the local minister to bless a cherry tree planted at the spot where he died.

'I need answers'

The Fraser family had lived in Carronshore for 30 years but have moved to another address because of the pressure.

Margaret Fraser said the family felt hurt and sick by the way the case had been handled since her husband's death.

She said: "I don't understand why the government want him to be about the area when they know that we are hurting so much.

"I need answers - this young one has been in a young offenders' institution and he's only done four years or something.

"My man's life is worth a lot more than that.

"If Jim Wallace has a bit of compassion in him at all then he would understand what we are going through as a family," she said.

"Would he like to come down and see my nine-year-old son and say 'yes I released that man that killed your dad'."

Adam Fraser, the victim's brother, said the family believed that the decision to release Halliday sent out the wrong signals.

He said: "Andrew Halliday has got away with murder - he was 14 when he done it and he's now 20-years-old. They feel it's right for him to be out and about on the street after six years.

"They feel that's right, but it's wrong and he should be punished for what he's done."

MSP Michael Mathieson has taken up the family's case and said they had "been through hell".

He said there had to be a balance between victims' feelings being recognised and a prisoner undergoing the rehabilitation process.