Liam Aitchison murder: Care policy changes made

Liam Aitchison was murdered in November 2011

Changes have been made to how children in care in the Western Isles are looked after once they become young adults.

The policies were recommended following the murder of South Uist 16-year-old Liam Aitchison in November 2011.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and NHS Western Isles are among the public bodies that have adopted the changes.

They were recommended so that the organisations' care of vulnerable 16 to 18-year-olds better reflected national guidelines.

Two men were jailed for life for the killing in 2011, the first murder on the Western Isles in more than 40 years.

Johnathan MacKinnon and Stefan Millar, both 23, were each ordered to spend a minimum of 18 years in prison before they could apply for parole.

MacKinnon and Millar had denied murder but were found guilty by a jury at the High Court in Glasgow.

Liam had socialised with Millar and MacKinnon after he started living in Stornoway on Lewis. The three had worked in the fishing industry.

Almost two weeks after he was last seen alive by his girlfriend and other friends, Liam's body was found in a derelict RAF building at Steinish, near Stornoway Airport on Lewis.

He had been struck on the head and body with a knife and bottle, and his head had been stamped on.