Victims' fathers brand Peter Tobin a 'chancer' after he fails to appear in court

Published on 22/07/2010 13:40

THE families of two of serial killer Peter Tobin's victims today branded him a "chancer" after he missed another court appearance through illness.

• Michael Hamilton (left) and Ian McNicol outside The High Court in Edinburgh today. Picture: PA

Tobin is serving life for murdering three young women and was due in the Court of Appeal in Edinburgh today to challenge a 30-year sentence for killing Falkirk teenager Vicky Hamilton.

But the 63-year-old, who has a history of missing court through illness, failed to turn up after taking unwell in Saughton Prison where he was being held prior to his appearance.

The trial involving another of Tobin's victims, 18-year-old Dinah McNicol, was also held up last year after the killer also became unwell.

Vicky's father Michael was in court today to see the case deferred for two months and hit out at Tobin's non-appearance.

He said: "They're wasting their time and they will be wasting their time in two months as well – guaranteed."

Asked if he genuinely believed Tobin was ill, Mr Hamilton said: "Never – I don't think so. I don't think there's anything wrong with him."

Mr Hamilton branded the proceedings a "waste of public money".

He added: "That's all that's happening as far as I'm concerned."

Miss McNicol's father Ian, who travelled up to Scotland for the hearing and is staying with Vicky's father, also hit out afterwards.

"It was a complete farce – he's just mucking everybody about.

"He's costing the taxpayer a fortune and mucking everybody about including the court.

"He's a serial killer. He's been convicted of being a serial killer. They should change the law."

The 71-year-old said he did not believe Tobin was genuinely ill.

"He's a chancer," Mr McNicol added.

Donald Findlay QC, acting for Tobin, told the court today there were also "issues" surrounding his legal representation after information received from the killer's English solicitors which will also have to be looked into.

Vicky, 15, was abducted in Bathgate in West Lothian in 1991.

Her remains were found 17 years later buried in the garden of Tobin's former home in Margate, Kent.

Judge Lord Emslie branded him "unfit to live in a decent society" following his conviction at the High Court in Dundee in December 2008.

An earlier appeal hearing against sentence in April was also postponed when the former handyman took ill.

Tobin is serving another two life sentences for the murders of Polish student Angelika Kluk and Miss McNicol.

Miss Kluk, 23, was raped and killed by Tobin at a Glasgow church in September 2006.

Miss McNicol, 18, vanished in August 1991 while hitchhiking to her home in Tillingham after leaving a music festival in Liphook, Hampshire.

Her remains were found alongside those of Miss Hamilton.

Officers this month have been searching two properties of in East Sussex where Tobin lived 1980s.