Killer 'extremely unlikely' to face World's End retrial

The victims' families had hoped a review of the rules that prevent an accused from being tried twice for the same offence would see Sinclair given a retrial over the 1977 murders.

Sinclair was acquitted of murdering Helen Scott and Christine Eadie, both 17, after meeting them in the World's End pub on the Royal Mile.

The public outcry after the case collapsed sparked calls for the double jeopardy law to be scrapped, but leading criminal justice experts have said the proposed reforms will have no impact unless new evidence is revealed or there is a confession.

Detectives have confirmed they have no plans to reopen the investigation into the double murder, leaving the case likely to remain unsolved.

Morain Scott, 80, the father of Helen, said: "This is disappointing, but I live in hope that new evidence will eventually come to light.

"It's their opinion, I don't agree with it. It is down to the interpretation of new evidence.

"If there is evidence that was not presented and the judge or jury didn't get to hear it, that to me is new evidence."

A Bill to scrap the 800-year-old double jeopardy rule is currently going through the Scottish Parliament.

But Professor Peter Duff, of Aberdeen University and a member of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, said: "This legislation is extremely unlikely to facilitate a fresh prosecution in the World's End murder case, even if it is retrospective.

"It is unrealistic to hope that any startling new evidence will emerge, nor does it seem likely that the suspect will confess.

"This is somewhat ironic because it was the acquittal of Angus Sinclair which ultimately led to the present legislation."

Professor Paul Roberts, a consultant to the Law Commissions of England and Wales and Scotland, said: "It's revealing that in the Scottish context these debates often provoke anxious meditations on the World's End murders.

"Of course, the example is completely beside the point.

"This was not a case in which the accused was acquitted at the time, only for new incriminating evidence to come to light years later.

"In this case, a prosecution was launched only after new evidence was secured more than three decades after the original offence.

"Those arguing for a retrial are basically saying that they don't accept the court's verdict and would like to see the case run again, presumably until a conviction is secured."

Sinclair is currently serving life after being convicted in 2001 of murdering Mary Gallagher, 17, in 1978. He was also convicted of killing Catherine Reehill, eight, when he was 15.

It is thought he may have killed at least nine females.