A SEXUAL predator has been convicted of murdering a “trusting and friendly” mother in her home more than 36 years ago after being snared by a “one-in-a-billion” DNA breakthrough.
Convicted rapist Graham McGill, 59, was an inmate at HMP Edinburgh on temporary release in 1984 when he strangled Mary McLaughlin, 58, in Partick, Glasgow.
The mother-of-11 had enjoyed a night out drinking and playing dominoes at different bars on September 26 of that year and was last seen leaving to go to a chip shop on her way home.
McGill was yesterday convicted of murder by jurors at the High Court in Glasgow after a deliberation period of more than two hours. The trial has heard Mary McLaughlin was throttled with the cord of her own dressing gown.
McGill, who had sat quietly hunched over in the dock since the trial began on Tuesday, wearing the same light-blue rain jacket, made no reaction as he was convicted. Jurors removed a reference in the charge that the former welder had taken off the victim’s clothing with intent to rape.
DNA found on her dress, inside the knot of the dressing gown belt, a cigarette end, and on a black bra all matched McGill, forensic scientist Joanne Cochrane told jurors. Judge Lord Burns said he would sentence McGill on May 18.
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