SECC murder: Security guard Clive Carter gets life

The body of Khanokporn Satjawat was found within the Clyde Auditorium. Picture: Complimentary

Clive Carter, a father-of-three, was told he will serve at least 20 years for battering Khanokporn Satjawat to death with a fire

extinguisher in a toilet.

Ms Satjawat, 42, from Thailand was attending the HIV conference at the SECC in the city last November when she was killed.

Carter, 35, from Motherwell, smashed her repeatedly over the head and face in a rage because she complained about him checking her security pass.

Carter admitted killing Ms Satjawat, but denied murder, claiming he had no memory of the incident.

His lawyers, who urged the jury to find him guilty of culpable homicide, also claimed he had a personality disorder which diminished his ability to control his actions.

But, jurors at the High Court in Glasgow rejected his excuses and yesterday found him guilty of murder after three hours and ten minutes of deliberation.

Carter was also found guilty of orchestrating a cover-up after the murder by washing blood off the fire extinguisher, hiding his bloodstained blazer and telling police he had seen a mystery Asian man carrying an extinguisher in the aftermath of the killing.

He was also convicted of committing a breach of the peace at the Holiday Inn Express, Stockwell Street, Glasgow, on 4 Nov-ember, 2012.

In that incident, he knocked on the door of Stephanie O’Brien’s room while carrying a fire extinguisher and claiming there had been a report of a fire

Jailing Carter yesterday, Lord Matthews said: “Khanokporn Satjawat was a hard-working, well-educated and dedicated lady who came to this country to participate in a conference whose purpose was the alleviation of suffering and the saving of lives.

“It is cruelly ironic that in the course of such an event that the life of that fragile lady should be taken in such a brutal fashion with an instrument whose primary purpose is also the saving of life, at the hands of a man to whom she should have been able to look for assistance.

“You are plainly, on the evidence, a man who is disturbed. However, you are deeply disturbing as the evidence in this trial has amply demonstrated, including the evidence as to the events at the Holiday Inn Express.

“One is left to wonder what the outcome might have been had Stephanie O’Brien not had the presence of mind to extricate herself from the hotel room before the situation escalated.

“However, your activities that night have understandably their left mark on her.

“You accepted responsibility for killing Khanokporn Satjawat. However, it is plain that you took significant steps in the immediate aftermath of her death to cover your tracks.”

Every bone on the left side of Ms Satjawat’s face and neck was broken and her skull was shattered into pieces. She died from blunt force trauma.

Ms Satjawat also had defensive injuries to her left hand caused by trying to fend off blows from Carter.

Her watch was found beside her bloodied body. It was smashed and had stopped at a couple of minutes past 2pm.

The defenceless delegate was killed by the man prosecutor John Scullion described as “being paid to ensure she was safe”.

Lord Matthews told Carter it was up to the parole board to decide when, if ever, he is released.

After Carter was led away to start his sentence, Lord Matthews told the jury of eight women and seven men: “Ms Satjawat was a completely innocent individual who came here to enjoy a conference and her body went back to her sister.”

The jury had heard that Carter had major issues with anger management. His GP sent him to counselling, but he quit after two sessions because the counsellor annoyed him.

Detective Superintendent John McDonald of Police Scotland said: “We are satisfied that Clive Carter has been brought to justice for the murder of Khanokporn Satjawat.

“This was a particularly brutal and senseless attack, which claimed the life of an innocent woman and caused fear and alarm to those who were attending the conference at the SECC last November.

“We would like to thank the management at the SECC and those who assisted in the inquiry who helped to bring this case to a satisfactory conclusion. We would also like to reassure the public that cases of this nature are extremely rare.

“We sincerely hope that this verdict will bring some comfort to the relatives of Ms Satjawat.”

One of Carter’s defence team, solicitor advocate John Paul Moberry, said: “Given the verdict of the jury, there is very little I can say. Mr Carter approached this trial with the position that the death of this lady was caused at his hand.

“There has been evidence before the court of Mr Carter’s medical state and there is nothing to add. Mr Carter has no relevant previous convictions and he has never been in prison before.”