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'Terrible evil' in dear green place | 'Terrible evil' in dear green place |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By Laura Pettigrew BBC Scotland news website Queen's Park in the south side of Glasgow became a crime scene | By Laura Pettigrew BBC Scotland news website Queen's Park in the south side of Glasgow became a crime scene |
The brutal murder of Moira Jones shocked people across Scotland, but perhaps none more so than those who used the park where she died. | |
In May last year a green space in the south side of Glasgow which was normally frequented by joggers, dog-walkers, cyclists and mothers with prams became a 60-hectare crime scene. | In May last year a green space in the south side of Glasgow which was normally frequented by joggers, dog-walkers, cyclists and mothers with prams became a 60-hectare crime scene. |
The discovery of the businesswoman's body, by a ranger, in undergrowth in Queen's Park sparked a murder investigation that would stretch across Europe. | The discovery of the businesswoman's body, by a ranger, in undergrowth in Queen's Park sparked a murder investigation that would stretch across Europe. |
Police officers descended in their droves to comb lawns, bushes and paths for clues that might lead them to her killer, and the park was closed for more than a fortnight. | Police officers descended in their droves to comb lawns, bushes and paths for clues that might lead them to her killer, and the park was closed for more than a fortnight. |
And it was evidence discovered in the park, and witness statements from people who used it, that helped eventually secure the conviction of Slovakian Marek Harcar for Ms Jones' murder. | And it was evidence discovered in the park, and witness statements from people who used it, that helped eventually secure the conviction of Slovakian Marek Harcar for Ms Jones' murder. |
A terrible evil came to this dear green place, but this dear green place is a park for the community, it's a place of life and growth and hope Rev Neil Galbraith Strathclyde Police chaplain | A terrible evil came to this dear green place, but this dear green place is a park for the community, it's a place of life and growth and hope Rev Neil Galbraith Strathclyde Police chaplain |
The parents of the 40-year-old said she loved Glasgow. Ms Jones moved to the city in 2003 from Staffordshire, where she was brought up. | The parents of the 40-year-old said she loved Glasgow. Ms Jones moved to the city in 2003 from Staffordshire, where she was brought up. |
She travelled the country working for the Britvic soft drinks company. | She travelled the country working for the Britvic soft drinks company. |
On the night she died she had been for drinks with her boyfriend, Paul Thomson, and had gone back to his flat where she planned to stay the night. | On the night she died she had been for drinks with her boyfriend, Paul Thomson, and had gone back to his flat where she planned to stay the night. |
However, she later decided to return home and was seen parking her car about 100 yards from her flat in Queen's Drive. | However, she later decided to return home and was seen parking her car about 100 yards from her flat in Queen's Drive. |
CCTV footage gathered as part of the police investigation showed two individuals heading towards the park, a larger figure "leading" a smaller one. | CCTV footage gathered as part of the police investigation showed two individuals heading towards the park, a larger figure "leading" a smaller one. |
A dog walker told the murder trial he later heard screams coming from a holly bush and a man talking with an Eastern European accent. | A dog walker told the murder trial he later heard screams coming from a holly bush and a man talking with an Eastern European accent. |
In the days following Ms Jones' rape and murder her parents travelled to Scotland, as did her brother who lives in Australia. | In the days following Ms Jones' rape and murder her parents travelled to Scotland, as did her brother who lives in Australia. |
They made an emotional appeal for help to catch her killer. | They made an emotional appeal for help to catch her killer. |
On the night she died Ms Jones had been out with her boyfriend | On the night she died Ms Jones had been out with her boyfriend |
Her family were later joined by friends and local people who attended a special memorial service and walk around Queen's Park, after it reopened to the public. | Her family were later joined by friends and local people who attended a special memorial service and walk around Queen's Park, after it reopened to the public. |
Strathclyde Police chaplain the Reverend Neil Galbraith, who led the service, said: "A terrible evil came to this dear green place, but this dear green place is a park for the community, it's a place of life and growth and hope." | Strathclyde Police chaplain the Reverend Neil Galbraith, who led the service, said: "A terrible evil came to this dear green place, but this dear green place is a park for the community, it's a place of life and growth and hope." |
Meanwhile, the police investigation to catch Ms Jones' killer was widening. | Meanwhile, the police investigation to catch Ms Jones' killer was widening. |
Door-to-door inquires in Queen's Park revealed that a Slovakian man, Marek Harcar, had moved to the area from Liverpool just 10 days before Ms Jones' death. | Door-to-door inquires in Queen's Park revealed that a Slovakian man, Marek Harcar, had moved to the area from Liverpool just 10 days before Ms Jones' death. |
He had been staying at a friend's flat but had fled to Europe in the days following the murder. | He had been staying at a friend's flat but had fled to Europe in the days following the murder. |
DNA matches | DNA matches |
The trial heard that on the night Ms Jones was attacked he had been drunk and had told his flatmate and neighbour he was going "looking for a woman". | The trial heard that on the night Ms Jones was attacked he had been drunk and had told his flatmate and neighbour he was going "looking for a woman". |
Forensic material gathered in the park also linked Harcar to the crime and DNA taken from the flat he was staying in matched DNA found at the murder scene. | Forensic material gathered in the park also linked Harcar to the crime and DNA taken from the flat he was staying in matched DNA found at the murder scene. |
The back of a mobile phone was discovered in the park. Tests on it revealed DNA that matched Ms Jones' profile. | The back of a mobile phone was discovered in the park. Tests on it revealed DNA that matched Ms Jones' profile. |
A European arrest warrant was granted and three weeks after Ms Jones was attacked Harcar was detained by police in the Slovak village of Nalepkovo. | A European arrest warrant was granted and three weeks after Ms Jones was attacked Harcar was detained by police in the Slovak village of Nalepkovo. |
When arrested, he was wearing a leather jacket. He was in possession of a mobile phone, the back of which was missing, and a camera belonging to Ms Jones was recovered from a bag in his house. | When arrested, he was wearing a leather jacket. He was in possession of a mobile phone, the back of which was missing, and a camera belonging to Ms Jones was recovered from a bag in his house. |
Moira Jones' camera was found in Harcar's house in Slovakia | Moira Jones' camera was found in Harcar's house in Slovakia |
Extradition procedures began and officers from Strathclyde Police brought him back to Scotland in July. | Extradition procedures began and officers from Strathclyde Police brought him back to Scotland in July. |
Tests later revealed the businesswoman's blood on Harcar's leather jacket, and forensic expert Carol Weston told the murder trial that the blood stains were in a pattern consistent with the wearer having assaulted Ms Jones. | Tests later revealed the businesswoman's blood on Harcar's leather jacket, and forensic expert Carol Weston told the murder trial that the blood stains were in a pattern consistent with the wearer having assaulted Ms Jones. |
Semen found on Ms Jones' body also matched Harcar's DNA profile. | Semen found on Ms Jones' body also matched Harcar's DNA profile. |
Throughout the police investigation and trial the Slovakian maintained his innocence. His lawyers lodged special defences of incrimination and alibi. | Throughout the police investigation and trial the Slovakian maintained his innocence. His lawyers lodged special defences of incrimination and alibi. |
Some of Ms Jones' belongings, including her purse and car keys, were removed from the park by other people following her murder. Her credit card was used fraudulently to buy a computer online. | Some of Ms Jones' belongings, including her purse and car keys, were removed from the park by other people following her murder. Her credit card was used fraudulently to buy a computer online. |
Sex offender | Sex offender |
The defence team told the jury that convicted sex offender Jason Mulheron had admitted the murder of Moira Jones. | The defence team told the jury that convicted sex offender Jason Mulheron had admitted the murder of Moira Jones. |
His former girlfriend, Caroline Daly, said he had told her he had "killed the girl in the park." | His former girlfriend, Caroline Daly, said he had told her he had "killed the girl in the park." |
However, when she appeared as a witness at the murder trial she claimed that days later he told her that was not true. | However, when she appeared as a witness at the murder trial she claimed that days later he told her that was not true. |
Mulheron, himself, also appeared in the witness box. | Mulheron, himself, also appeared in the witness box. |
A tree was planted in Queen's Park in memory of Moira Jones | A tree was planted in Queen's Park in memory of Moira Jones |
He said he was a violent man, a liar, and a danger to women. But he denied telling Ms Daly that he had killed Moira Jones. | He said he was a violent man, a liar, and a danger to women. But he denied telling Ms Daly that he had killed Moira Jones. |
The jury found Harcar guilty of the rape and murder of Moira Jones on Wednesday. | The jury found Harcar guilty of the rape and murder of Moira Jones on Wednesday. |
The conviction may bring her family, who sat through the 19 days of evidence and legal debate, some closure. | The conviction may bring her family, who sat through the 19 days of evidence and legal debate, some closure. |
But for them, and the people who use Queen's Park, what happened last May will never be forgotten. | But for them, and the people who use Queen's Park, what happened last May will never be forgotten. |
Since the park reopened the dog walkers, joggers, cyclists and prams have all returned. | Since the park reopened the dog walkers, joggers, cyclists and prams have all returned. |
The flowers laid in tribute to a "remarkable lady" have long since been removed. | The flowers laid in tribute to a "remarkable lady" have long since been removed. |
However, a tree, planted in the days after her death ensures memories of Moira Jones live on in this dear green place. | However, a tree, planted in the days after her death ensures memories of Moira Jones live on in this dear green place. |
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