Jill Barclay: Man, 23, who raped mother-of-two in Aberdeen and burned her alive given lighter sentence as a result of younger age
A person who raped a mother-of-two after which burned her alive was handed a lighter minimal jail sentence as a result of his youthful age and early responsible plea.
Jill Barclay, 47, was attacked whereas strolling dwelling after an evening out in Aberdeen final September.
Rhys Bennett, 23, who had adopted his sufferer from a pub within the Dyce space, repeatedly stamped on her head and physique, smacked her head in opposition to a downpipe, compressed her neck and dragged her alongside the bottom.
He then raped her, earlier than later returning to pour petrol on her and setting her alight.
During sentencing, Lord Arthurson branded the violence “feral”.
He advised Bennett: “The available evidence tells the horrible truth that your victim was still living at the time that the fire was set. To be crystal clear – you burned her alive.”
At the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, Bennett pleaded guilty to rape, murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
The labourer, from Ballingry in Fife, was sentenced to life in jail with at the very least 24 years behind bars and was positioned on the intercourse offenders register indefinitely.
Lord Arthurson, who branded Bennett’s behaviour “unimaginably wicked and indeed medieval in their barbarity”, mentioned the accused would have been dealing with at the very least 29 years in jail had it not been for the sentencing tips for under-25s and his early responsible plea.
Offenders usually obtain a lesser sentence for early responsible pleas.
Jailing Bennett for all times, Lord Arthurson mentioned: “I have determined on the particular facts of this case that the notional headline punishment part of that sentence should sit at a period of 29 years.
“Taking into consideration, as I require to, the circumstances of your early plea and the engaged tips for the sentencing of offenders underneath 25, and approaching these discounting parts on an in cumulo foundation, I repair the precise punishment a part of your life sentence at a interval of 24 years.
“On charge two, the charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice, I impose a concurrent determinate sentence of four years imprisonment, discounted from a period of six years.”
Read extra:
Man jailed for raping and murdering mum-of-two
Man jailed for life over murder after burned body found near children’s play are
New guidelines for sentencing under-25s got here into impact in Scotland in January 2022.
The Scottish Sentencing Council really helpful a extra “individualistic approach” to take account of the perpetrator’s life experiences.
The adjustments had been made to assist scale back reoffending by specializing in rehabilitation slightly than punishment.
The steerage reads: “A custodial sentence should only be imposed on a young person when the court is satisfied that no other sentence is appropriate.
“If a custodial sentence is imposed on an adolescent, it needs to be shorter than that which might have been imposed on an older individual for a similar, or the same, offence.”
Read extra:
Crown Office to appeal sentence of man who was spared jail for raping 13-year-old girl
The guidelines for sentencing under-25s in Scotland
The tips just lately got here underneath the highlight following the case of Sean Hogg, 21, who was spared jail for raping a 13-year-old girl in Midlothian. The Crown Office has since introduced it intends to appeal the sentence.
Ms Barclay, a proposals engineer who labored for power agency Petrofac, was described as a “deeply beloved life associate, mom and daughter” by her family following Bennett’s sentencing.
They added: “She did not need to die that day and particularly within the unspeakable, brutal manner it occurred.
“This man has taken so much from us and changed our lives forever.”