Suzanne Pilley’s killer wants to take case to the Supreme Court

AN APPEAL by the man convicted of murdering Edinburgh book-keeper Suzanne Pilley has been rejected, and he now wants to take the case to the Supreme Court in London.

Judges at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh said they had “no doubt” they should dismiss David Gilroy’s claim to have suffered a miscarriage of justice.

Lawyers for Gilroy sought leave to appeal to the Supreme Court, but the judges said they would not hear an application until there had been the chance to study full written reasons for their ruling, which would be issued as soon as possible.

Gilroy showed no emotion as he was led back to the cells yesterday. Ms Pilley’s parents had attended the hearing, but declined to comment as they left.

Ms Pilley, 38, had ended a relationship with Gilroy, 50, shortly before she disappeared on 4 May, 2010, as she arrived at the office in Edinburgh where they both worked.

At a trial earlier this year, Gilroy was found guilty of murdering Ms Pilley by unknown means, and was ordered to serve at least 18 years of a life sentence before he could apply for parole.

Her body has never been found, but it is suspected Gilroy buried it somewhere in Argyll.

John Scott, QC, for Gilroy, submitted at the appeal that the verdict should be overturned because the trial judge, Lord Bracadale, had allowed evidence obtained from Gilroy without his being cautioned by the police.

The court heard Gilroy had made three statements to the police on 6 and 8 May before his status was changed from a witness to a suspect. As a witness, he had not been warned before any of the statements that he need not say anything, and, if he did, it could be used as evidence.