Store proprietor John Leathem concedes killing Paige Doherty

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A man is confronting a lifelong incarceration for the "furious" blade homicide of Clydebank young person Paige Doherty.

The 15-year-old's body was found in a lush range in the West Dunbartonshire town on 21 March. She had more than 140 wounds and been cut 61 times.

Paige was most recently seen entering a shop, claimed by 32-year-old John Leathem.

He conceded her homicide and guaranteed to have "froze" after Paige undermined to report him for rape after she connected for work.

At the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lady Rae conceded sentence on Leathem until one month from now and told the wedded father-of-two: "This was a savage, excited assault on a youngster."

The court heard that Paige, who was 4ft 8in, had stayed with a companion in Clydebank the prior night she was slaughtered.

She had gone into the store, on Fleming Avenue, to purchase a move before making a trip to a beauticians where she worked in Kirkintilloch, around 12 miles away.

CCTV footage played in court demonstrated Paige entering Delicious Deli at 08:21. Leathem is accepted to have executed her in the blink of an eye a while later.

Prosecutor Iain McSporran told the court: "That was the last time she was seen or caught on CCTV alive by anybody other than by Leathem."

Conceal starts

Only 10 minutes after Paige entered the store, the shade to the front entryway was pulled down.

Leathem told the proprietor of a close-by beautician who had looked in: "What a morning - the lassie didn't turn up. I had a nose drain and I have to gather my auto."

In the wake of gathering his auto and stopping it outside the store, Leathem started his endeavor to conceal the homicide.

Mr McSporran said: "The collection of Paige Doherty was wrapped in what gave off an impression of being dark container bags...her white socked foot distending.

"He put her body in the back of the auto and shut the boot."

Leathem went ahead to change his trousers and purchased containers of fade before doing a reversal to his shop.

'Open for business'

Mr McSporran told the court: "The shop then stayed open for business with Leathem completely occupied with get ready sustenance and serving clients until 3.15pm that evening."

Prosecutors trust he had at first moved Paige's body from his auto to his greenery enclosure shed.

Concerns were raised that night when nobody had gotten notification from Paige. Her mom Pamela Munro went to police and a missing individual request started.

The day after the homicide Leathem went on a family excursion to Balmaha with his significant other and youthful kid.

His auto was recorded on CCTV at the region where her body was dumped - a lush region near the city's Great Western Road, not exactly a mile from the store.

He then came back to the shop and opened for business.

At around twelve that day, two individuals discovered Paige's body inside undergrowth.

Protective injuries

An after death examination later recorded 61 cut injuries, including 43 to her head and neck, and 85 further cuts - a considerable lot of them portrayed as "protective in nature".

As police propelled a homicide request, Paige's mom Pamela Munro composed on Facebook: "We are completely crushed, as will numerous individuals who know her will be xxx."

Criminologists later found that Paige had gone to the store on 19 March "however had not left".

Leathem's shop, home and auto were looked, after which he was confined.

Leathem at first denied any contribution with Paige's passing however later conceded his blame despite overpowering confirmation against him.

His legal counselor told the court that Leathem had been a "typical and normal individual" before the homicide.

Ian Duguid QC, guarding, said what happened was a "gross over-response" to a remark Paige purportedly made.

It was asserted the young person had gone to the store thinking Leathem may utilize her, however that he advised her he had other "possibility to meet".

Prospective employee meeting claim

Paige was then said to have told Leathem: "I thought I was landing the position. I will simply say that you touched me."

Mr Duguid said Leathem all of a sudden stood up at this remark before Paige began shouting.

The promoter went ahead: "By then, he came to crosswise over for a knife...he went to snatch the blade and cut her."

Mr Duguid closed: "It is not my position that the way of the remark would alleviate the quantity of cut injuries or the ruthlessness of the assault.

"I don't know whether it is valid or not, but rather I am just taking the guidelines of the blamed for what occurred."

The QC included that Leathem had constantly "acknowledged duty" for the passing

The court likewise heard various casualty sway proclamations from Paige's "sorrowful" family.

Her mom Pamela uncovered how she keeps on torment "restlessness and bad dreams".

Prosecutor Mr McSporran said: "She portrays waking to hear her little girl's shouts and the horrendous acknowledgment that she was not there to help her."

Her significant other Andrew Munro - Paige's progression father - was said to live "in a condition of dejection".

The backer depute included: "They can't escape their brains the fear they trust Paige probably experienced as the assault upon her started."

Mr McSporran included: "The impact on her kin - and the misfortune endured by her numerous companions - are good to go out in touching point of interest."

'Remorselessly taken away'

Taking after the hearing, Det Supt Duncan Sloan, who drove the request, said CCTV footage had been "key" to getting Leathem.

"Officers meticulously investigated hours of footage which at last uncovered that Paige strolled into that shop yet didn't leave," he said.

"This, combined with broad criminological examinations of the wrongdoing scenes built up what happened to Paige and who was dependable.

"I am certain that the sheer weight of this confirmation has prompted the liable supplication at court today."

The criminologist included: "Our contemplations stay with Paige's family, whose lively, splendid youthful little girl has been pitilessly detracted from them at only 15 years old.

"Paige's entire future lay in front of her and her life has been mercilessly stopped by the horrible activities of one man."
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