Man who murdered girlfriend jailed for minimum of 23 years

A man, Christopher McGowan, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years after being convicted of the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Claire Inglis.

The 28-year-old mother’s body, discovered in her Stirling home in November 2021, bore evidence of 76 distinct injuries. McGowan, also 28, faced trial at the High Court in Stirling and was found guilty.

During the sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Michael O’Grady remarked on the extreme cruelty of the crime, noting that calling it “sadistic” would be an understatement. He highlighted McGowan’s apparent lack of emotion and remorse throughout the trial, according to The Guardian.

McGowan’s criminal record stretches back 14 years and includes 39 previous convictions. Additionally, he was out on bail when the murder occurred.

Moira Orr, Scotland’s procurator fiscal for homicide, expressed the profound impact the murder had on Ms. Inglis’s family, describing the crime as a tragic outcome of domestic abuse.

She emphasized that the prosecution, in collaboration with Police Scotland, worked diligently to ensure justice was served, particularly given McGowan’s history of aggressive and controlling behavior towards Inglis.

Detective Inspector Will Harley also commented on the case, underscoring the tragedy of a young mother taken from her family in such a brutal manner, and vowed that efforts to apprehend violent offenders would remain steadfast.