Man who raped and killed pensioner to appeal against sentence

Published on 14/09/2012 13:26

A MAN who raped and killed a pensioner who treated him like a grandson has

launched an appeal against his sentence.

• Killer in bid to overturn 12-year sentence

• Family of victim say appeal leaves them devastated

Jay Soso has taken the first legal steps in a bid to overturn a 12 year and

eight months term imposed last month.

Soso, 20, of Edinburgh, was convicted of rape and culpable homicide after he

attacked 63-year-old Marie Reid in her sheltered home in the city in November

2010.

Mrs Reid lay dead for up to four days before her body was discovered.

Soso was initially charged with murder, but admitted a reduced charge of

culpable homicide.

He was only caught after Marie’s son Paul pressed police to investigate her

death further after they had initially ruled out foul play.

But today Paul, 31, said the appeal has left him devastated.

Suspicious

He said: “I received a letter which stated that he was going to appealing his

sentence and he could get bail.

“A lot of people are not happy and I am so angry.

“It’s like a kick in the teeth.

“I was hoping to put everything behind me but now it’s going to be dragged up

again and it could go on and on.

“I’ll just need to see what happens but I’m hoping it will get flung out.”

Police thought Marie’s death was not suspicious, but the truth emerged after

Paul voiced concerns and post-mortem examinations were carried out.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lady Dorrian said Soso had been aware

that his victim, who lived alone and suffered from poor health, was vulnerable.

Passing sentence she told him: ‘You have pled guilty to the rape and culpable

homicide of an elderly lady in her own home.

Violent

‘She was vulnerable in that she lived alone and suffered from poor health, both

factors of which you were aware.

“You knew her and there was an element of trust in the relationship you had

with her.

“The rape was clearly forcible and violent, causing injuries to her and leading

to her death.”

Lady Dorrian also ordered that he should be kept under supervision for a

further five years for the public’s protection.

A Scottish Courts spokeswoman confirmed the appeal application had been lodged

on Monday.