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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tobin guilty of schoolgirl murder | Tobin guilty of schoolgirl murder |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Peter Tobin has been found guilty of the murder of Falkirk schoolgirl Vicky Hamilton, who disappeared more than 17 years ago. | Peter Tobin has been found guilty of the murder of Falkirk schoolgirl Vicky Hamilton, who disappeared more than 17 years ago. |
| Tobin, 62, was convicted of abducting, raping and killing the 15-year-old, who was last seen alive in Bathgate, West Lothian, on 10 February 1991. | Tobin, 62, was convicted of abducting, raping and killing the 15-year-old, who was last seen alive in Bathgate, West Lothian, on 10 February 1991. |
| Her remains were found buried in bin bags at his former home in Margate, Kent, in November last year. | |
| Tobin was given a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 30 years. | Tobin was given a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 30 years. |
| The jury of 12 women and three men took less than two-and-a-half hours to reach their verdict. | |
| Abducting and killing a child on her way home from a happy weekend with her sister and then desecrating her body must rank among the most evil and horrific acts that any human being could commit Judge lord Emslie | |
| As it was read out, there were cries of "Yes" from members of Vicky's family and friends. | |
| Sentencing the killer, Judge Lord Emslie told Tobin: "Abducting and killing a child on her way home from a happy weekend with her sister and then desecrating her body must rank among the most evil and horrific acts that any human being could commit." | |
| During the four-week trial at the High Court in Dundee, the court heard that Tobin had taken Vicky to his former home in Bathgate's Robertson Avenue. | During the four-week trial at the High Court in Dundee, the court heard that Tobin had taken Vicky to his former home in Bathgate's Robertson Avenue. |
| It was there that he drugged, raped and murdered the schoolgirl before bisecting her body. | It was there that he drugged, raped and murdered the schoolgirl before bisecting her body. |
| A post-mortem examination carried out on Vicky's remains found evidence of Tobin's DNA. | A post-mortem examination carried out on Vicky's remains found evidence of Tobin's DNA. |
| 'Modern technology' | |
| Police searchers also discovered a dagger hidden in the loft of the Bathgate address, which contained traces of Vicky's skin. | Police searchers also discovered a dagger hidden in the loft of the Bathgate address, which contained traces of Vicky's skin. |
| DNA evidence belonging to Tobin's young son Daniel was also discovered on her purse, which was found at St Andrew Square in Edinburgh 11 days after she went missing. | DNA evidence belonging to Tobin's young son Daniel was also discovered on her purse, which was found at St Andrew Square in Edinburgh 11 days after she went missing. |
| Tobin claimed that he had been in the Portsmouth area when Vicky disappeared, but witnesses reported seeing him in Bathgate. | Tobin claimed that he had been in the Portsmouth area when Vicky disappeared, but witnesses reported seeing him in Bathgate. |
| In a statement, Vicky's father Michael Hamilton paid tribute to those involved in the case. | |
| He said: "I want to thank all concerned for bringing my daughter Vicky's murderer to justice. | |
| "And I would also like to thank Solicitor General Frank Mulholland and his team for all the hard work involved. | |
| It is thought Tobin dumped Vicky's purse to confuse police inquiries | |
| "Furthermore, I want to thank Lothian and Borders Police and CID for their hard work in finding my daughter, Vicky." | |
| Det Ch Insp Keith Anderson of Lothian and Borders Police, who headed a reinvestigation into the case in 2001, welcomed the verdict. | Det Ch Insp Keith Anderson of Lothian and Borders Police, who headed a reinvestigation into the case in 2001, welcomed the verdict. |
| He said: "I'm obviously pleased in regard to many aspects, but mostly for the family. | He said: "I'm obviously pleased in regard to many aspects, but mostly for the family. |
| "Seventeen years not knowing what's happened to your daughter or your sister must be an absolutely horrific way to lead your life. | "Seventeen years not knowing what's happened to your daughter or your sister must be an absolutely horrific way to lead your life. |
| "I think there's lessons to be learned and we can continue to use modern technology to bring historical offenders to justice. | "I think there's lessons to be learned and we can continue to use modern technology to bring historical offenders to justice. |
| "I think it's good practice that most police forces should be looking at their historical cases in view of this judgement today and it may be that there could be further police action in the future." | "I think it's good practice that most police forces should be looking at their historical cases in view of this judgement today and it may be that there could be further police action in the future." |