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| Father hits out over murder term | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The father of a 17-year-old schoolgirl who was stabbed to death in an Ayrshire street has hit out at the length of time her murderer will be detained. | |
| John Wilson, 20, was given a life sentence after he admitted murdering his former girlfriend, Michelle Stewart, in Drongan last November. | |
| The judge said Wilson must serve at least 12 years. | |
| Ms Stewart's father Kenneth said his daughter had been "completely let down" by the justice system. | Ms Stewart's father Kenneth said his daughter had been "completely let down" by the justice system. |
| Mr Stewart said: "The family is totally disappointed. He stabbed my daughter 10 times, 12 years is not enough for pre-meditated murder. | Mr Stewart said: "The family is totally disappointed. He stabbed my daughter 10 times, 12 years is not enough for pre-meditated murder. |
| "I expected a 17 year sentence - a year at least for every year of Michelle's life." | "I expected a 17 year sentence - a year at least for every year of Michelle's life." |
| He added: "When you get to 17 or 18 you have the world in front of you, but now it has been taken away from her." | He added: "When you get to 17 or 18 you have the world in front of you, but now it has been taken away from her." |
| He will be out after 12 years. We will never get Michelle back Kenny Stewart Victim's brother | He will be out after 12 years. We will never get Michelle back Kenny Stewart Victim's brother |
| Ms Stewart's mother Josephine wept as she briefly said: "He has taken away my child." | Ms Stewart's mother Josephine wept as she briefly said: "He has taken away my child." |
| The victim's brother Kenny, a nurse who tried to help his dying sister at the scene, added: "He will be out after 12 years. We will never get Michelle back." | The victim's brother Kenny, a nurse who tried to help his dying sister at the scene, added: "He will be out after 12 years. We will never get Michelle back." |
| "Life should mean life like it does in America. | "Life should mean life like it does in America. |
| "Here they are out of their cell playing Playstation games. In America they are in their cells 23 hours a day." | "Here they are out of their cell playing Playstation games. In America they are in their cells 23 hours a day." |
| The court had earlier heard that Ms Stewart, who was disabled and had difficulty walking, had broken up with Wilson six weeks before he attacked her. | The court had earlier heard that Ms Stewart, who was disabled and had difficulty walking, had broken up with Wilson six weeks before he attacked her. |
| But, he had bombarded her with text messages begging her to take him back. Her mum eventually contacted the mobile phone company to change her number. | But, he had bombarded her with text messages begging her to take him back. Her mum eventually contacted the mobile phone company to change her number. |
| Eight witnesses | Eight witnesses |
| On the evening of the fatal assault on 14 November, she had been strolling arm-in-arm with two friends in Drongan. | On the evening of the fatal assault on 14 November, she had been strolling arm-in-arm with two friends in Drongan. |
| When Wilson, from Prestwick, approached her and asked to talk, the schoolgirl continued walking and ignored him. | When Wilson, from Prestwick, approached her and asked to talk, the schoolgirl continued walking and ignored him. |
| A short time later he pulled her away from her friends and began hitting her on the back and chest. | A short time later he pulled her away from her friends and began hitting her on the back and chest. |
| When Wilson ran off after the attack, Ms Stewart grabbed hold of a friend and said: "He stabbed me." | When Wilson ran off after the attack, Ms Stewart grabbed hold of a friend and said: "He stabbed me." |
| The court was told that at least eight people witnessed the incident. | The court was told that at least eight people witnessed the incident. |
| In the immediate aftermath, Ms Stewart's mother and brother, who is a nurse, arrived on the scene. | In the immediate aftermath, Ms Stewart's mother and brother, who is a nurse, arrived on the scene. |
| Her brother tried to revive her using CPR. | Her brother tried to revive her using CPR. |
| She later died in Ayr Hospital, from a stab wound to the chest. | She later died in Ayr Hospital, from a stab wound to the chest. |
| Judge Lord Brailsford said Wilson had shown little remorse. | |
| He gave Wilson a life sentence and told him he will be detained for at least 12 years before he can be considered for parole. | |
| He said: "This was entirely unprovoked. It happened in front of her friends and in a public place." | He said: "This was entirely unprovoked. It happened in front of her friends and in a public place." |
| The court heard 20-year-old has previous convictions for a racially aggravated breach of the peace and throwing a firework into a bus full of passengers. | The court heard 20-year-old has previous convictions for a racially aggravated breach of the peace and throwing a firework into a bus full of passengers. |
| Ms Stewart would have celebrated her 18th birthday later this month. | Ms Stewart would have celebrated her 18th birthday later this month. |
| Before her death, she had planned to sit final exams with the view of joining the police force as a secretary and had also started taking driving lessons. | Before her death, she had planned to sit final exams with the view of joining the police force as a secretary and had also started taking driving lessons. |