Teenager convicted of fire murder

Last updated at 14:38 GMT, Wednesday, 2 December 2009

A teenager who killed his girlfriend by dousing her in petrol and setting her alight has been found guilty of murder.

Stewart Blackburn, 18, was convicted by a unanimous verdict after a 10-day trial at the High Court in Livingston.

His girlfriend Jessica McCagh, 17, died in hospital on 25 April after the attack at the Arbroath flat she shared with Blackburn.

Jessica's parents said their daughter had been murdered in a "terrible and terrifying way".

"We want to thank the police and the prosecution for bringing Blackburn to justice today for his wicked actions," they said.

"We also want to thank Ricci Foreman for trying to save Jessica - we will always be grateful to him for his bravery.

"Jessica was the baby of the family. We miss everything about her and we always will."

The court heard evidence which suggested that after an argument Blackburn had poured petrol over his victim, set it alight and held a door closed to prevent Jessica escaping from the blaze in the bedroom.

He had claimed that the fire started from burning embers dropping from a cannabis cigarette.

But expert witnesses told the court that was very unlikely and produced evidence to indicate the petrol must have been lit by a naked flame.

The attack left Jessica, a former pupil at Arbroath High School, with burns on up to 85% of her body. She died later the same day at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital.

The court heard that her final words, spoken to her father hours earlier, were: "I don't want to die, dad - I love you."

Blackburn - who will be sentenced next month - denied murder but had admitted culpable homicide.

Judge Lord Bracadale said he had shown a degree of wickedness that would "deeply disturb" all right-thinking people.

Prosecutor Frank Mulholland QC described Blackburn's crime as a "barbaric and evil act against a defenceless young woman".

Speaking after the verdict, Tom Dysart, area procurator fiscal for Tayside, said it was a crime that had "provoked outrage" in Arbroath and across Scotland.

"Jessica's family and friends not only have to live with her tragic loss, but also to carry the knowledge of the terrible circumstances in which she died.

"I hope that they can take some comfort from the jury's verdict, and from the fact that Stewart Blackburn has now been brought to justice."

Det Insp Iain Wales, who led the murder inquiry, said Blackburn showed "no concern about Jessica whatsoever".

"It is impossible for us to truly comprehend what Jessica endured," he said.

"What I am sure of, however, is that Blackburn fully understood the consequences of his actions, acted without a glimmer of fear or compassion and ultimately showed a contemptible disregard for the agonies of someone he claimed to care for.

"Jessica was a young girl on the threshold of adulthood - someone with everything to live for. It is a tragedy when a young life is ended so suddenly and so utterly needlessly."

Neighbour Denise Stephenson described Blackburn as being violent and said she often heard him arguing with Jessica.

"He was pretty vicious, but I didn't expect him to go to the lengths that he did," she added.

"Poor Jessica."