Disgraced skier link to suicide girl

Published on Friday 3 May 2002 01:00

RELATIVES of Scots Olympic skier Alain Baxter own the Edinburgh property where pictures of a semi-naked city teenager were allegedly taken at a party six weeks before she killed herself.

It is understood the party was held in a property belonging to Penny Rennie and her property developer husband Les adjoining their family house in Barnton Brae.

Mrs Rennie is the aunt of Alain Baxter who was stripped of his Winter Olympics bronze medal after failing a drugs test.

Last week it was claimed that Amel Guedroudj, 16, a pupil at St Margaret’s School, committed suicide after indecent pictures were taken while she was unconscious at a drunken party.

Fazia Guedroudj, mother of Amel who hanged herself in January, claimed her daughter was taken advantage of at the party in November.

She said photos showing Amel’s top lifted were later circulated among pupils and pinned on a school noticeboard, without authorisation. She also said the experience humiliated and deeply distressed her daughter.

The pictures were said to have been taken by taken by pupils from Edinburgh Academy and the school later wrote to some parents concerning the behaviour of their children.

The Evening News can reveal that the party took place at a property in Barnton owned by the Rennies.

Conflicting reports have emerged about the party attended by students from Edinburgh Academy and St Margaret’s - both schools which charge in excess of 1700-a-term for day pupils.

There is also an ongoing police investigation into what took place at the party.

Mr and Mrs Rennie have refused to comment on what happened at the party.

When Mrs Rennie answered the door of the family home in Barnton Brae she said: "I’ll get my husband."

Mr Rennie denied it had been held in their house but refused to say where it had taken place. He said the police had advised the couple against discussing what had happened.

Mr and Mrs Rennie’s two teenage sons Jamie and Ross - both accomplished skiers like their famous cousin - are Edinburgh Academy pupils. There is no suggestion they are connected with the scandal in any way.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "As with any sudden death we are putting together a report which will be sent to the procurator fiscal. However, when we were putting that report together allegations were made concerning a picture taken of Amel Guedroudj and we are now making inquiries into those allegations."

Mrs Rennie, a mother-of-five, met Alain Baxter along with his mother Sue Dickson at Edinburgh Airport when the 28-year-old returned victorious from Salt Lake City on February 27.

His slalom performance made him the first Briton to win a Winter Olympics alpine medal, and Mr Baxter said there was pandemonium when he called at his aunt’s house, shortly after scooping the bronze.