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| Man found guilty of Moira murder | Man found guilty of Moira murder |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A 33-year-old man has been jailed for at least 25 years after being found guilty of murdering businesswoman Moira Jones in a Glasgow park. | A 33-year-old man has been jailed for at least 25 years after being found guilty of murdering businesswoman Moira Jones in a Glasgow park. |
| Slovakian Marek Harcar abducted and raped Ms Jones, 40, in Queen's Park on 28 May last year. | Slovakian Marek Harcar abducted and raped Ms Jones, 40, in Queen's Park on 28 May last year. |
| The judge, Lord Bracadale, said his conduct reflected a level of wickedness very rarely encountered. | The judge, Lord Bracadale, said his conduct reflected a level of wickedness very rarely encountered. |
| Harcar was jailed for life and told he must serve a minimum of 25 years before he can be considered for parole. | Harcar was jailed for life and told he must serve a minimum of 25 years before he can be considered for parole. |
| The jury of nine men and six women also found him guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by fleeing to Eastern Europe. | |
| He had denied all the charges during a 19-day trial which took place at the High Court in Glasgow. | He had denied all the charges during a 19-day trial which took place at the High Court in Glasgow. |
| Speaking outside the court after the verdict, Ms Jones' mother, Bea Jones, paid an emotional tribute. | |
| She said: "Moira, darling darling Moira. We were so proud of you. | |
| "We will always be so proud of you and we will do the best we can with our lives to make them worthy of you. | |
| "You will live with us forever." | |
| CCTV shows 'drunk' killer | |
| Sentencing Harcar, Lord Bracadale told him his crime had "shocked the nation". | |
| He said: "Moira Jones was a hard-working woman who, after a day of meetings and some socialising, made her way home after 11pm. | |
| "Near home she encountered you and her fate was sealed. | |
| "You had consumed a large amount of alcohol and declared your intention to seek a woman. You abducted Moira Jones and took her into Queen's Park." | |
| He added: "There, in a most disturbing way, you held her captive in a holly bush before taking her further into the park where you inflicted extensive injuries to her head and neck, raped and murdered her, leaving her half-naked body lying in the bushes. | |
| "Your conduct that night reflects a level of wickedness very rarely encountered." | |
| The jury heard that on the night she died Ms Jones, who was originally from Staffordshire, had been out with her boyfriend. | The jury heard that on the night she died Ms Jones, who was originally from Staffordshire, had been out with her boyfriend. |
| I would like to commend the courage shown by her family and friends who remained fully supportive of the police throughout the investigation Det Supt Derek RobertsonStrathclyde Police | |
| It is thought she later returned to the Queen's Park area and parked her car just 100 yards from her flat. | It is thought she later returned to the Queen's Park area and parked her car just 100 yards from her flat. |
| CCTV footage played in court appeared to show two figures, one "leading" the other, heading towards the park. | CCTV footage played in court appeared to show two figures, one "leading" the other, heading towards the park. |
| The court heard that Harcar had moved to the south side of Glasgow from Liverpool just 10 days before the murder. | The court heard that Harcar had moved to the south side of Glasgow from Liverpool just 10 days before the murder. |
| On the night Ms Jones was attacked he had been drinking heavily and told his flatmate he was going "looking for a woman." | On the night Ms Jones was attacked he had been drinking heavily and told his flatmate he was going "looking for a woman." |
| Ms Jones' body was discovered the following morning by a park ranger. She had been punched, kicked and stamped upon, pinned against the ground and raped. | Ms Jones' body was discovered the following morning by a park ranger. She had been punched, kicked and stamped upon, pinned against the ground and raped. |
| The trial heard that days after the murder Harcar flew to the Czech Republic and then to Slovakia. | The trial heard that days after the murder Harcar flew to the Czech Republic and then to Slovakia. |
| He was detained by Slovakian police on 18 June and later extradited to Scotland. | He was detained by Slovakian police on 18 June and later extradited to Scotland. |
| The court heard the blood stains on a black leather jacket Harcar was wearing when he was arrested matched Ms Jones' DNA profile. | The court heard the blood stains on a black leather jacket Harcar was wearing when he was arrested matched Ms Jones' DNA profile. |
| Semen matching Harcar's profile was also found on the businesswoman's body. | Semen matching Harcar's profile was also found on the businesswoman's body. |
| Harcar had denied raping and murdering Ms Jones. | Harcar had denied raping and murdering Ms Jones. |
| The body of Moira Jones was found in Queen's Park in May 2008 | The body of Moira Jones was found in Queen's Park in May 2008 |
| His defence counsel, Paul McBride QC, had tried to convince the jury that another man, convicted sex offender Jason Mulheron, had killed Ms Jones. | |
| Det Supt Derek Robertson, who led the murder investigation, said: "This has been a very harrowing time for Moira's parents, brother, partner and friends and their presence in court must have been extremely difficult as they heard the evidence unfold. | Det Supt Derek Robertson, who led the murder investigation, said: "This has been a very harrowing time for Moira's parents, brother, partner and friends and their presence in court must have been extremely difficult as they heard the evidence unfold. |
| "I would like to commend the courage shown by her family and friends who remained fully supportive of the police throughout the investigation. | "I would like to commend the courage shown by her family and friends who remained fully supportive of the police throughout the investigation. |
| "As a crucial part of the investigation Queen's Park was closed for a number of weeks which no doubt inconvenienced the local community." | "As a crucial part of the investigation Queen's Park was closed for a number of weeks which no doubt inconvenienced the local community." |
| He added: "The rape and murder of a young woman in a public park obviously caused a great deal of fear and concern for the local residents, in particular women who frequented the area. | He added: "The rape and murder of a young woman in a public park obviously caused a great deal of fear and concern for the local residents, in particular women who frequented the area. |
| "The local community and public in general have to be thanked for their co-operation, understanding and continual support, all of which greatly assisted the investigation. | "The local community and public in general have to be thanked for their co-operation, understanding and continual support, all of which greatly assisted the investigation. |
| "Finally, with the conviction of Marek Harcar, I hope that Moira's family can now move some way to rebuilding their lives." | "Finally, with the conviction of Marek Harcar, I hope that Moira's family can now move some way to rebuilding their lives." |