A MAN is facing a life sentence after admitting yesterday that he murdered a teenage girl in a flat in Aberdeen and tried to dismember the body.
Stuart Jack, 22, attacked Laura Milne, 19, with a knife, and after her death cut off an ear, and tried to remove her head and legs. The body was wrapped up, and hidden in a cupboard. It is suspected it lay for up to a week before being discovered.
Two others who played a lesser part in the assault and the cover-up, Debbie Buchan, 19, and Leigh Mackinnon, 18, appeared with Jack at the High Court in Edinburgh. They pleaded guilty to attempted murder.
The case was adjourned overnight, and the judge, Lord Woolman, will be given a full account of the offences today.
Ms Milne had learning difficulties. Latterly, she had stayed in a hostel for the homeless. Her mother had died some time ago.
Police received information on 19 December last year and went to a flat above the Somerfield supermarket in Aberdeen's Union Street, and found Ms Milne's body. Inquiries led to the arrests of Jack, Buchan and Mackinnon, and all three were charged with murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
A trial had been due to begin yesterday, but Jack admitted murder.
The charge stated that Ms Milne had been in the bathroom when the door was kicked open, and she was forced out and had her spectacles removed. She was repeatedly punched, kicked and stamped, and Jack struck blows with a knife to her head and body.
Buchan, in whose flat the killing was committed, and Mackinnon each admitted taking part in the punching, kicking and stamping, and that they had tried to murder Ms Milne.
Jack attempted to remove the head, legs and breast of Ms Milne with a knife, and cut an ear from the body.
The trio tried to cover up the death, using a mobile phone SIM card stolen from Ms Milne to send several text messages, making it appear that the messages had come from her.
Mackinnon fled from Aberdeen, and went to Glasgow.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cooper of Grampian Police condemned those involved in the "horrific and gruesome" death of Ms Milne. He said: "This is a tragic case involving a vulnerable young lady who had sought friendship from those who were ultimately convicted today."
The full article contains 407 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
