Killer asks for forgiveness in letter to victim’s family

A CONVICTED criminal who raped and murdered a frail pensioner has written a letter to her family asking them to forgive him.

Kevin Rooney, 26 was convicted of murdering 74-year-old Rosina Sutherland in her sheltered housing bungalow in the Capital’s Longstone Park on October 29, before going out on a drinking spree and playing pool. Rooney, who was imprisoned for at least 21 years, had been in jail 22 times before, it has emerged.

In a badly written letter, sent by the killer while he was on remand for the murder of Mrs Sutherland, he said: “i did not meen to kill your (mum) it was a nite of madness.

“If I could turn the clock back i wood. i am gone to pled the (murdar) and ask for a life sentins for wat i did its wat i deserf.”

Mrs Sutherland’s daughter Teresa Iannelli, 44, reportedly said: “He could write one of these letters every week, or even every day, and we will still never accept it.

“He is the worst kind of person there is and he deserves to never walk the streets again.”