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Life term for grandmother killer Life term for grandmother killer
(about 6 hours later)
A teenager who stabbed his grandmother 23 times as she lay sleeping has been sentenced to life in prison.A teenager who stabbed his grandmother 23 times as she lay sleeping has been sentenced to life in prison.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Thomas McAlpine, 16, will serve a minimum of 12 years behind bars.The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Thomas McAlpine, 16, will serve a minimum of 12 years behind bars.
He had previously admitted killing 60-year-old Elizabeth McAlpine at her home in Dumbarton.He had previously admitted killing 60-year-old Elizabeth McAlpine at her home in Dumbarton.
The teenager claimed that he was out of control due to the side effects of sleeping tablets he had taken in a suicide bid.The teenager claimed that he was out of control due to the side effects of sleeping tablets he had taken in a suicide bid.
McAlpine was just 15 when he killed his grandmother after an apparent row about school work.McAlpine was just 15 when he killed his grandmother after an apparent row about school work.
Judge Lord Clarke said: "The evidence in this case clearly established to had subjected her to an attack of such savagery it almost beggars belief."
Only you perhaps will ever know why someone who had apparently done you no harm and had, indeed, cared for you, should have been subjected to such savagery Judge Lord Clarke
McAlpine, now 16, claimed he loved his granny and blamed sleeping pills for the killing.McAlpine, now 16, claimed he loved his granny and blamed sleeping pills for the killing.
Only you perhaps will ever know why someone who had apparently done you no harm and had, indeed, cared for you, should have been subjected to such savagery Judge Lord Clarke
But a jury rejected his claim that he was not responsible for his actions and found him guilty of the murder.But a jury rejected his claim that he was not responsible for his actions and found him guilty of the murder.
He was also found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by throwing away the knife.He was also found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by throwing away the knife.
Defence QC Donald Findlay told the court that McAlpine had no motive and bore no ill-will towards his grandmother.Defence QC Donald Findlay told the court that McAlpine had no motive and bore no ill-will towards his grandmother.
The lawyer asked Lord Clarke to consider the sleeping pills as a possible explanation.The lawyer asked Lord Clarke to consider the sleeping pills as a possible explanation.
Lord Clarke said: "Only you perhaps will ever know why someone who had apparently done you no harm and had, indeed, cared for you, should have been subjected to such savagery.Lord Clarke said: "Only you perhaps will ever know why someone who had apparently done you no harm and had, indeed, cared for you, should have been subjected to such savagery.
Minimum sentenceMinimum sentence
"The impact on your family and particularly on your sister who had to witness the aftermath of such an attack can only be imagined and if you have any human feelings that in itself will be punishment for you.""The impact on your family and particularly on your sister who had to witness the aftermath of such an attack can only be imagined and if you have any human feelings that in itself will be punishment for you."
McAlpine, of 11 Waverley Terrace, Dumbarton, was told that if he had been older the minimum sentence would have been higher.McAlpine, of 11 Waverley Terrace, Dumbarton, was told that if he had been older the minimum sentence would have been higher.
He was found guilty of the murder at the house on 15 June 15 last year, just hours after Mrs McAlpine told him she was going to wash her hands of him.He was found guilty of the murder at the house on 15 June 15 last year, just hours after Mrs McAlpine told him she was going to wash her hands of him.
The trial heard that after his grandmother went to bed McAlpine got a knife from the kitchen and went into her bedroom and stabbed her again and again.The trial heard that after his grandmother went to bed McAlpine got a knife from the kitchen and went into her bedroom and stabbed her again and again.
The noise and the shouts of her grandmother woke his sister Elizabeth, 17, who went into the room and found her dying grandmother covered in blood and crawling along the floor.The noise and the shouts of her grandmother woke his sister Elizabeth, 17, who went into the room and found her dying grandmother covered in blood and crawling along the floor.
Minutes later McAlpine left the family home claiming he was going to tell relatives what had happened. On the way he threw away the murder weapon which was later found by police.Minutes later McAlpine left the family home claiming he was going to tell relatives what had happened. On the way he threw away the murder weapon which was later found by police.
Sleeping tabletSleeping tablet
McAlpine's sister told advocate depute Alan Mackay, prosecuting, that she was called to a meeting at the school with the deputy head teacher along with her grandmother and brother the day before the murder.McAlpine's sister told advocate depute Alan Mackay, prosecuting, that she was called to a meeting at the school with the deputy head teacher along with her grandmother and brother the day before the murder.
She said: "Thomas had to sign a paper to say he would be of better behaviour. My nan said he had better buck up his ideas otherwise she was going to wash her hands of him."She said: "Thomas had to sign a paper to say he would be of better behaviour. My nan said he had better buck up his ideas otherwise she was going to wash her hands of him."
McAlpine had been suspended from school for a third time, the trial heard.McAlpine had been suspended from school for a third time, the trial heard.
The sister said that night her grandmother had gone to bed after taking a sleeping tablet.The sister said that night her grandmother had gone to bed after taking a sleeping tablet.
She said she had been awakened by noises from her grandmother's bedroom. At first she thought it was the cat and ignored it.She said she had been awakened by noises from her grandmother's bedroom. At first she thought it was the cat and ignored it.
Miss McAlpine added: "I could hear my nan shouting something. She sounded as if she was saying: 'Thomas, Thomas.'Miss McAlpine added: "I could hear my nan shouting something. She sounded as if she was saying: 'Thomas, Thomas.'
"I saw a shadow across the hall running from my nan's room to the toilet."I saw a shadow across the hall running from my nan's room to the toilet.
Paradoxical rageParadoxical rage
"I went into my nan's room. There was blood in the bed and the covers were halfway down the bed."I went into my nan's room. There was blood in the bed and the covers were halfway down the bed.
"There was lots of blood. My nan was crawling towards the radiator.""There was lots of blood. My nan was crawling towards the radiator."
McAlpine claimed that he "loved his grandmother to bits" and admired her for taking on the care of him and his older sister.McAlpine claimed that he "loved his grandmother to bits" and admired her for taking on the care of him and his older sister.
Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Thomas White, 48, claimed that McAlpine could have been suffering from a rare side effect known as paradoxical rage where instead of causing drowsiness, the tablets make people angry and full of rage.Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Thomas White, 48, claimed that McAlpine could have been suffering from a rare side effect known as paradoxical rage where instead of causing drowsiness, the tablets make people angry and full of rage.
Mr Findlay said: "I have never known a case where anyone has killed their grandmother. Even in the worst of families grandmothers have a sacred position."Mr Findlay said: "I have never known a case where anyone has killed their grandmother. Even in the worst of families grandmothers have a sacred position."
The lawyer said that although McAlpine denied murder he had not denied the killing.The lawyer said that although McAlpine denied murder he had not denied the killing.