THE father of Mandy Horne admitted yesterday that his daughter was brutally murdered by her husband, the writer, cartoonist and musician known as Harry Horse, who then killed himself.
George Williamson spoke after details emerged which contradicted the story that the couple had died in a suicide pact in January 2007.
Mr Williamson said he wanted it to be known how his daughter died. "This was no living suicide pact. It was
murder," he said.
"Mandy had arranged to go with her mother, Grace, to the dentist the morning they were found. She wasn't planning on suicide."
The couple moved to Shetland in 2004, after Mandy was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, moving into a house near her parents.
According to the pathologist's report, Harry had stabbed Mandy more than 30 times, fetching a second knife when the first one broke. None of the wounds was fatal, but she bled to death. Wounds on her arms suggested she had defended herself against the attack.
Harry, whose real name was Richard Horne, then turned the knife on himself. The pathologist recorded 47 wounds on his body. He also died of blood loss. Harry also killed their dog and cat.
The Williamson family said they do not want to get into an argument with the Horne family, although legal issues remain unresolved as the couple died without leaving wills. Mandy's name does not yet appear at the grave, although there are plans for this to be rectified.
The full article contains 255 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
