Son on medication for depression after rape and killing

Jay Soso was sentenced yesterday at the High Court in Edinburgh to 12 years and eight months for the sex attack he carried out on 63-year-old Marie Reid which led to her death.

Her son Paul revealed he was on medication and seeking counselling as he continues to come to terms with her horrible death. Mr Reid also condemned claims by Soso, now 20, who said that he did not remember the brutal assault in his victim’s home in Easter Drylaw Way as he had been smoking cannabis that day.

The 31-year-old said the drugs claims heard in court yesterday were an “excuse” for Soso, then 18, not to talk about the killing.

Soso admitted raping the pensioner on November 11, 2010, and also pleaded guilty to culpable homicide as the attack caused her death.

Soso met Mrs Reid when he moved into her street with his mother in 2003 and would run errands for his neighbour, who was described as having the health of an 80-year-old.

Mr Reid, who lives in Ferry Road, was in court to watch Soso being sentenced. He said: “I’m just glad it’s all over now. He could’ve got a bit longer in jail but I don’t want to think about it. We just want to get on with our lives.

“It’s been a very difficult time since my mum died. I’ve  suffered from depression and been on medication and I’m starting to see a counsellor to see if that can help. Other things had been going on in my life but after what happened to my mum that pushed me over. I’m just trying to carry on now.”

Defence counsel Brian McConnachie QC told the court yesterday Soso had been abusing cannabis since he was 13 or 14, and would smoke the drug first thing in the morning, during lunchtime and after work.

Mr McConnachie said Soso remembered smoking the drug on the day of the killing, and also referred to a new study which indicated that cannabis use can leaves teenagers  running the risk of seriously affecting their intelligence and memory.

But Mr Reid said: “I think the cannabis thing is an excuse. He knows and remembers what he did, but he doesn’t want to admit to it.”

Chief Inspector Matt  Richards, who led the investigation into Mrs Reid’s death, said: “This was a harrowing case, not least for the family of Marie Reid, who suffered huge distress as the full circumstances of the crime committed by Jay Soso became apparent.”

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