Aberdeen grandmother's murderer jailed for life

Margaret Robertson was murdered at her flat in Aberdeen

A man who murdered a grandmother in a frenzied knife attack at her home has been jailed for life.

Norman Duncan, who had taken crack cocaine, stabbed 54-year-old Margaret Robertson at least 25 times at her flat in Aberdeen on 25 September 2019.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Lord Harrower said it was a "sustained and merciless attack inflicted upon a defenceless woman".

Duncan must serve 20 years in prison before he is eligible to seek parole.

But the judge warned the 43-year-old: "This does not mean you will be released automatically at the end of that period."

Lord Harrower said Duncan's date of release, if any, would depend on the view taken by the parole board of the risks he posed to public safety.

The court heard Duncan had 74 previous convictions and 58 of them had led to custodial sentences being imposed.

His lengthy criminal record includes convictions for serious assault, assault with a weapon, assault with intent to rob and rioting.

Duncan had denied murdering Ms Robertson, who was known as Meg, but was found guilty following a trial.

In search of drugs

He originally stood trial last year but proceedings were brought to a halt because of his mental health at the time.

Defence solicitor advocate Iain Paterson said the father-of-two was on antipsychotic medication, and that he had struggled with drugs since the age of 26.

The court heard the murder victim was left lying near naked in her flat where she was found by a friend who thought it odd to find the front door to her home unlocked. He alerted emergency services.

Jurors heard that on the day of the killing Duncan made three trips to the block of flats where his victim lived in search of drugs.

The court also heard that DNA matching Duncan was found under his victim's fingernails and she had sustained defensive injuries as she tried to protect herself. Other forensic evidence also pointed to Duncan as the murderer.

Unanswered questions

After the sentencing, senior investigating officer, Det Insp Gary Winter, said it had been an horrendous and sustained attack in Ms Robertson's own flat - a place where she should have been safe.

Ms Robertson's children, Michelle and Mark, issued a statement which said: "We have sat through weeks of harrowing, devastating evidence which will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

"Our mum didn't deserve to die that day and especially in the horrendous, brutal way it happened. We still have unanswered questions as to why it happened at all. This man has taken so much from us and impacted on our lives in many ways."

"Margaret, or Meg as she was to us, was a much loved mum, daughter, grandma and friend to many. It is hard to comprehend our mum has been taken from us and she is in our thoughts every day and we hope she can finally rest in peace."