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| Paul McManus guilty of brutal murder of Isabelle Sanders during robbery | Paul McManus guilty of brutal murder of Isabelle Sanders during robbery |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A man has been convicted of murdering a woman by stabbing her 37 times during a robbery at her home in Glasgow. | A man has been convicted of murdering a woman by stabbing her 37 times during a robbery at her home in Glasgow. |
| Paul McManus brutally killed 51-year-old Isabelle Sanders at her house in the city's Crookston area on 9 April. | Paul McManus brutally killed 51-year-old Isabelle Sanders at her house in the city's Crookston area on 9 April. |
| He was also convicted of attempting to murder her partner, Norman Busby, 86, who survived being stabbed by McManus. | He was also convicted of attempting to murder her partner, Norman Busby, 86, who survived being stabbed by McManus. |
| The 20-year-old from Glasgow was also convicted at the city's high court of two other robbery-related stabbings. He now faces a mandatory life sentence. | The 20-year-old from Glasgow was also convicted at the city's high court of two other robbery-related stabbings. He now faces a mandatory life sentence. |
| At the High Court in Glasgow judge Lord Armstrong told McManus: "This was a violent and vindictive murder of a woman in her own home and what was a cowardly attack on an 85-year-old man (now 86) who spent his life serving the community." | At the High Court in Glasgow judge Lord Armstrong told McManus: "This was a violent and vindictive murder of a woman in her own home and what was a cowardly attack on an 85-year-old man (now 86) who spent his life serving the community." |
| Friends blamed | |
| Lord Armstrong added: "The only sentence which can be imposed is life imprisonment." | Lord Armstrong added: "The only sentence which can be imposed is life imprisonment." |
| The judge will determine the minimum period McManus should spend in prison at a sentencing hearing in January. He has deferred sentence until then for background reports on McManus because of his age. | The judge will determine the minimum period McManus should spend in prison at a sentencing hearing in January. He has deferred sentence until then for background reports on McManus because of his age. |
| When the jurors returned their verdict McManus, who was guarded in the dock by three G4S officers, showed no emotion. | When the jurors returned their verdict McManus, who was guarded in the dock by three G4S officers, showed no emotion. |
| Advocate depute Bruce Erroch, prosecuting, told the court that he had a number of previous convictions for violence including offences involving knives. | Advocate depute Bruce Erroch, prosecuting, told the court that he had a number of previous convictions for violence including offences involving knives. |
| Ms Sanders' brother James Dougall later called for the "severe punishment" of her killer. | Ms Sanders' brother James Dougall later called for the "severe punishment" of her killer. |
| He said: "We would now respectfully request the Scottish judiciary, and in particular Lord Armstrong, to support the Scottish government's justice policy and ensure public confidence remains in our justice system by imposing a severe sentence on the violent re-offender who has devastated our family. | He said: "We would now respectfully request the Scottish judiciary, and in particular Lord Armstrong, to support the Scottish government's justice policy and ensure public confidence remains in our justice system by imposing a severe sentence on the violent re-offender who has devastated our family. |
| "We would encourage everyone who agrees with this view to ensure their opinion is heard." | "We would encourage everyone who agrees with this view to ensure their opinion is heard." |
| McManus had denied murdering Ms Sanders and had lodged a defence of incrimination, blaming his former friends Ross Arthurs and Christopher O'Reilly. | McManus had denied murdering Ms Sanders and had lodged a defence of incrimination, blaming his former friends Ross Arthurs and Christopher O'Reilly. |
| Both men denied being at Ms Sanders' home at 77 Raeswood Drive on the night of the murder. | Both men denied being at Ms Sanders' home at 77 Raeswood Drive on the night of the murder. |
| 'Covered in blood' | |
| The jury heard how McManus was armed with a knife in each hand when he barged his way into Ms Sanders' home after the door had been answered by Mr Busby. | The jury heard how McManus was armed with a knife in each hand when he barged his way into Ms Sanders' home after the door had been answered by Mr Busby. |
| The 86-year-old described staggering back and being stabbed "several times" in the chest before Ms Sanders, who had been upstairs in bed, came to the top of the stairs. | The 86-year-old described staggering back and being stabbed "several times" in the chest before Ms Sanders, who had been upstairs in bed, came to the top of the stairs. |
| Mr Busby said: "Isabelle screamed and ran down the stairs and she saw him standing there. I was lying on the floor covered in blood. | Mr Busby said: "Isabelle screamed and ran down the stairs and she saw him standing there. I was lying on the floor covered in blood. |
| "She saw him stealing stuff and she tried to push him out the front door and he had his knives and he stabbed her several times. | "She saw him stealing stuff and she tried to push him out the front door and he had his knives and he stabbed her several times. |
| "She fell to the ground covered in blood. I reached out but she was dead." | "She fell to the ground covered in blood. I reached out but she was dead." |
| The court heard that after seizing car keys from the house, McManus left, taking £300 in cash, a decanter filled with whisky and a laptop. He could not start the car and fled. | The court heard that after seizing car keys from the house, McManus left, taking £300 in cash, a decanter filled with whisky and a laptop. He could not start the car and fled. |
| Pathologist Dr Marjorie Turner told jurors that Ms Sanders had 61 separate injuries to her body and suffered 37 stab wounds, two of which were fatal. | Pathologist Dr Marjorie Turner told jurors that Ms Sanders had 61 separate injuries to her body and suffered 37 stab wounds, two of which were fatal. |
| Some of the stab wounds had sliced through bone and Dr Turner said these would have required "moderate force". | Some of the stab wounds had sliced through bone and Dr Turner said these would have required "moderate force". |
| Mr Busby suffered two punctured lungs in the attack, which could have proved fatal without treatment. | Mr Busby suffered two punctured lungs in the attack, which could have proved fatal without treatment. |
| DNA link | |
| The court was also told by Mr Arthurs that McManus had confessed to him that he carried out the murder. | The court was also told by Mr Arthurs that McManus had confessed to him that he carried out the murder. |
| He said McManus told him he "couldn't stop" after attacking Ms Sanders, adding: "He said he stabbed her repeatedly on the head and shoulders. It was horrible." | He said McManus told him he "couldn't stop" after attacking Ms Sanders, adding: "He said he stabbed her repeatedly on the head and shoulders. It was horrible." |
| He was accused by McManus' defence QC Gordon Jackson of making up the story, but Mr Arthurs told the court: "I'm not a novelist. You don't just make up things like that." | He was accused by McManus' defence QC Gordon Jackson of making up the story, but Mr Arthurs told the court: "I'm not a novelist. You don't just make up things like that." |
| The jury also heard that a pair of jogging trousers and a tracksuit top belonging to McManus had the DNA of Ms Sanders on them. | The jury also heard that a pair of jogging trousers and a tracksuit top belonging to McManus had the DNA of Ms Sanders on them. |
| The trainers he wore were never recovered. McManus threw them away in a bin in Glasgow city centre after buying a new pair with cash he had stolen from Mr Busby. | The trainers he wore were never recovered. McManus threw them away in a bin in Glasgow city centre after buying a new pair with cash he had stolen from Mr Busby. |
| In evidence, McManus admitted the jogging trousers and tracksuit top were his, but claimed that on the night of the murder they were worn by Mr Arthurs. | In evidence, McManus admitted the jogging trousers and tracksuit top were his, but claimed that on the night of the murder they were worn by Mr Arthurs. |
| McManus also told the jury that he had stabbed Mr Busby in a panic and was upstairs when Ms Sanders was stabbed by one of his friends. | McManus also told the jury that he had stabbed Mr Busby in a panic and was upstairs when Ms Sanders was stabbed by one of his friends. |
| The jury of nine women and six men took less than two hours to find McManus guilty of all charges. | The jury of nine women and six men took less than two hours to find McManus guilty of all charges. |
| 'Horrendous attack' | |
| He now faces a mandatory life term for murder. | He now faces a mandatory life term for murder. |
| Det Ch Inspector Jim Smith, from Police Scotland, said: "This was a horrendous attack on a vulnerable elderly man and his partner who were within their own home when McManus turned up at their door with violence and theft on his mind. | Det Ch Inspector Jim Smith, from Police Scotland, said: "This was a horrendous attack on a vulnerable elderly man and his partner who were within their own home when McManus turned up at their door with violence and theft on his mind. |
| "Norman has been left shattered by the death of his partner Isabelle, who died a violent death in her own home at the hands of McManus who had no regard for the consequences of his actions. | "Norman has been left shattered by the death of his partner Isabelle, who died a violent death in her own home at the hands of McManus who had no regard for the consequences of his actions. |
| "Understandably, it has been an incredibly difficult time for Isabelle and Norman's family, and I would like to pay tribute to them for their bravery and their courage throughout." | "Understandably, it has been an incredibly difficult time for Isabelle and Norman's family, and I would like to pay tribute to them for their bravery and their courage throughout." |