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| Man found guilty of Moira murder | Man found guilty of Moira murder |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| A 33-year-old man has been jailed for at least 25 years after being found guilty of raping and murdering Moira Jones in a Glasgow park. | A 33-year-old man has been jailed for at least 25 years after being found guilty of raping and murdering Moira Jones in a Glasgow park. |
| Slovakian Marek Harcar abducted the 40-year-old businesswoman just yards from her home on 28 May last year. Her body was found in Queen's Park the next day. | Slovakian Marek Harcar abducted the 40-year-old businesswoman just yards from her home on 28 May last year. Her body was found in Queen's Park the next day. |
| Judge Lord Bracadale said his conduct reflected "a level of wickedness very rarely encountered". | Judge Lord Bracadale said his conduct reflected "a level of wickedness very rarely encountered". |
| Ms Jones' mother described Harcar as an "evil, depraved monster". | Ms Jones' mother described Harcar as an "evil, depraved monster". |
| He was jailed for life and told he must serve a minimum of 25 years before he can be considered for parole. | He 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. | 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. |
| Mother pays tribute to 'precious' Moira | Mother pays tribute to 'precious' Moira |
| Speaking outside the court after the verdict, Ms Jones' mother, Bea Jones, said: "Our precious girl had her life stolen from her in the most depraved way by an evil, depraved monster. | Speaking outside the court after the verdict, Ms Jones' mother, Bea Jones, said: "Our precious girl had her life stolen from her in the most depraved way by an evil, depraved monster. |
| "She was robbed of everything she had to look forward to for herself and for others. We have been deprived of sharing her life." | "She was robbed of everything she had to look forward to for herself and for others. We have been deprived of sharing her life." |
| Sentencing Harcar, Lord Bracadale told him his crime had "shocked the nation". | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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." |
| CCTV shows 'drunk' killer | CCTV shows 'drunk' killer |
| 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. | 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." | "Your conduct that night reflects a level of wickedness very rarely encountered." |
| The judge recommended that Harcar be deported after his release. | |
| The court was told Harcar has 13 previous criminal convictions, four of which involved violence. | The court was told Harcar has 13 previous criminal convictions, four of which involved violence. |
| 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. |
| 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." |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| His defence counsel, Paul McBride QC, had tried to convince the jury that another man, convicted sex offender Jason Mulheron, had killed Ms Jones. | His defence counsel, Paul McBride QC, had tried to convince the jury that another man, convicted sex offender Jason Mulheron, had killed Ms Jones. |
| SENTENCING STATEMENT Read the judge's comments (64KB) Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | SENTENCING STATEMENT Read the judge's comments (64KB) Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| 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." |