Crown Office rejects inquiry into death of teenage girl

THE Crown Office has ruled out the need to hold a fatal accident inquiry into the death of a 16-year-old girl killed in a double shooting tragedy.

Sophie Taylor from Tomintoul, a fourth-year pupil at Speyside High School, died on 12 April when she was accidentally shot by her boyfriend, Calum Murray, 18, before the grief-stricken trainee gamekeeper turned a gun on himself.

They died within minutes of each other at Blairnamarrow Cottage near the Lecht Ski Centre, ten miles from the village of Tomintoul, Moray, where Miss Taylor stayed with her parents.

Death certificates have previously revealed that Sophie suffered a shotgun injury to the chest, while her boyfriend sustained a shotgun injury to the head.

A Crown Office spokes-woman confirmed yesterday there would be no fatal accident inquiry into Sophie’s death.

She said: “After full and careful consideration of the report by Crown Counsel, it was decided that no further action is appropriate.”

She added: “The case is now closed. The procurator-fiscal at Elgin has kept the next of kin advised and informed throughout the course of our investigation.”