Male prostitute who killed university lecturer could be detained indefinitely

Published on 29/06/2012 12:55

A MALE prostitute who killed a university lecturer in a frenzied knife attack is to be assessed to find out whether he should be detained indefinitely.

Pawel Rodak, 20, was convicted of a lesser charge of culpable homicide after standing trial for the murder of Roger Gray.

Mr Gray, 64, who taught at Heriot Watt University, was stabbed 114 times after inviting Rodak to his home in Edinburgh for sex. He was found dead from blood loss and a knife wound which penetrated his heart.

The gas cooker in his kitchen had been left turned on and a lit candle left beside it, the court heard.

During the trial, Professor Anthony Busuttil, 66, former Regius Professor of Forensic Medicine at Edinburgh University, said he had never seen so many stab wounds on a victim in his long career as a pathologist.

Rodak appeared for sentence before temporary judge Michael O’Grady, at the High Court in Livingston, earlier today

But the judge said the unusual nature of the case made it necessary for him to obtain a risk assessment on Rodak before passing sentence.

Murdo MacLeod, QC, who was appointed by the court to represent Rodak after he refused to instruct lawyers, said his client now expressed regret for the killing.

“He has asked me to publicly express his regret for the commission of this offence and his profound condolences for the family of Mr Gray and the suffering they have endured,” he said.

Mr MacLeod said Rodak now wanted to be treated for the mental health problems which had led him to kill.

He reminded the court that the accused had been diagnosed as suffering from post traumatic stress disorder after being violently raped by a man when he was aged 15.

Although he was self harming while in prison during the trial, and suffering from an eating disorder, he was now in much better health, the lawyer said.

Mr MacLeod added: “This was his one and only foray into the world of prostitution, with disastrous consequences.

“This happened in sado-masochistic circumstances. Clearly Mr Gray had something in mind for that evening.

“It’s unlikely that the issue of non-consenting behaviour will arise in future. Mr Rodak would be extremely unlikely to put himself in such situations again.”

Rodak was remanded in custody until the psychiatric report is prepared.

He will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on 21 September.