Disabled woman murdered by "friend”

Katharine Quarmby

A man responsible for killing a Scottish disabled teenager has admitted her murder.

Stuart Jack, 22, pleaded guilty to murdering 19-year-old Laura Milne (pictured) in December last year, in Aberdeen.

Two of Jack’s friends, Debbie Buchan, 19, and Leigh MacKinnon, 18, pleaded guilty to attempted murder at the High Court in Edinburgh.

After killing Miss Milne, Jack and his co-accused attempted to hide her body. 

They had viciously beaten Miss Milne to the point of unconsciousness, before Jack slit her throat. They then stole her phone and boasted of her killing on a phone video. Jack said he enjoyed doing it.

Buchan said: “Thank you, goodbye, you are the weakest link.”

The court heard that Buchan had bullied her from the age of five. Laura lived in a homeless unit in Aberdeen and met Jack, Buchan and Leigh MacKinnon, 18, through the shelter or at the Cyrenians day centre.

The advocate depute, David Young, said Laura was a “vulnerable, naïve and easily manipulated” young woman.

Her father, Brian, paid his daughter an emotional tribute, saying: "We continue to miss Laura every day.
She was a major part of our family and it was rare for a day to pass without her being in touch with us. She was always on the phone or visiting us.

"Laura was a lovely young woman with a big heart who did not deserve to die so young or in such a violent manner.

"She was always willing to help others and this was reflected in the work she did with the Cyrenians in Aberdeen. Her failing was that she was too trusting and could not see the bad in people."

Of Buchan, he said: “Laura had been bullied by her throughout her school years, since the age of five, but she did not bear a grudge against her.

"I warned Laura to be wary of her but she assured me they had become friends.”

Detective chief inspector Mark Cooper, who headed the investigation, said: “This is a tragic case involving a vulnerable young lady who had clearly sought friendship from those who were ultimately convicted today.”

Jim Elder-Woodward, chair of Scope’s Independent Living Zone think-tank, said: "Society's response to Laura seems to have been simply to label her as 'vulnerable' and accommodate her in a hostel. 

“Despite her human qualities of warmth and kindness, this ignoble reaction by state mechanisms most probably contributed to her value being lessened by those around her; those who equally probably may have been suffering under similar state ignominies. 

“If Laura had been valued as an equal citizen her rights would have been championed, her contribution to society enhanced and her worth to those around her appreciated. 

“Disabled people don't need pity and protection as 'vulnerable' people; we need to be valued and resourced as equal citizens." 
Robin Van den Hende, of the charities Voice UK, Respond and the Ann Craft Trust, said: "The reasons Stuart Jack gave for killing Ms Milne made no mention of her disability. Yet Stuart Jack stated that Ms Milne was worth "f*** all" and the horrific nature of the murder clearly shows he believed this. Did he think Ms Milne was worth nothing because she had learning disabilities?"

He added that, as the crime took place in Scotland, the disability hate crime sentencing provisions of s 146 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, do not apply. Green MSP Patrick Harvie has proposed a new bill that would allow judges to hand harsher sentences to those perpetrating hate crimes against disabled people and other groups.

Richard Hamer, director of policy and communications at Capability Scotland, said: "This is a horrific case in which it appears the perpetrators have viewed the victim's life as having little value because of her learning disability. 

“It clearly demonstrates the need to focus more attention and protection on those disabled people who are vulnerable as a result of their impairment.

"If such an offence has been committed because the victim is disabled, or it is a contributory factor, then sentencing must more accurately reflect this unacceptable situation.

“For this reason, Capability Scotland strongly supports Patrick Harvie's sentencing of offences aggravated by prejudice (Scotland) bill."

Sentencing will take place later this month.