Killer on home leave jailed for murder bid

A lifelong restriction order has been issued to a convicted killer who attempted to kill a dog walker in Dundee while on home leave.

In August, Robbie McIntosh, 32, beat Linda McDonald in Templeton Woods using a dumbbell.
When McIntosh was fifteen years old, he fatally stabbed a dog walker on Dundee Law, leading to his earlier life sentence in prison in 2002.

Before he is eligible for parole, he has to serve for a minimum of five years.

McIntosh might spend the rest of his life behind bars since he won’t be considered for parole until he is no longer thought to pose a risk to the public.
In Aberdeen, Mrs. McDonald and her family attended the High Court to witness Judge Lord Arthurson’s sentencing of McIntosh.

As a result of the judge’s Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR), McIntosh will require lifelong supervision.
Lord Arthurson stated: “Throughout the attack, which was undoubtedly a murderous one, you remained impervious to her pleas for mercy.”You hauled her off the path and into the trees as she lay there fading in and out of awareness.

“Thankfully, your victim’s screams were heard by other dog walkers and you were seen crouching down and leaning over your victim on the ground.”

A study on McIntosh’s “psychopathic personality traits” and his “high risk of physical violence and psychological harm to the public, particularly adult females” were cited by the judge.
The fact that “no warning signs prior to the commission of this new offence” existed, according to Lord Arthurson, was particularly concerning.
Mrs. McDonald’s husband, Matthew, made the following statement outside the court: “We are confident in the judgement passed today and it will hopefully mean life means life.”

“My wife’s attack on August 7 drastically altered our life. It has been a roller coaster ride of emotions.”The appropriate authorities looking into the conditions of his release have given us assurances, and we are hoping to hear back on our simple inquiries.

“Make no mistake – this could have happened to anybody. “We hope he never gets out and have issues about why he was out in the first place.” Mr McDonald said his family’s sympathies were also with that of civil servant Anne Nicoll, who McIntosh murdered in 2001.

There were “no available words” that McIntosh could provide to “explain, rationalise, or mitigate his conduct,” defence attorney Chris Fyffe had told the court.

The guilty plea, he claimed, was “the only expression of remorse available to him” for the convicted killer.
McIntosh was previously found guilty of stabbing Ms. Nicoll 29 times and given a minimum term of 15 years.
McIntosh was supposed to be considered for parole at the time of the attack on Mrs. McDonald, and he had been granted home leave in advance.

On August 2, 2018, which was the sixteenth anniversary of the murder, McIntosh was granted leave.

After suffering from two fractures to her skull and severe damage to her thumb, Mrs. McDonald, 52, was left with permanent scars and is currently experiencing anxiety and insomnia.
When two dog walkers heard Mrs. McDonald screaming and interrupted the attack, McIntosh ran away.
During First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood, Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Conservative Party, questioned Nicola Sturgeon about the home leave policy for convicted murderers, bringing up the McIntosh case.

According to Ms. Davidson, more than 4,000 prisoners received this kind of furlough in the previous year.
She stated: “I don’t think it is unreasonable for the public to expect prisoners to serve their time.”

Rehabilitation process

Even while the first minister acknowledged that there were lessons to be learnt, she maintained that home leave was “really important” for the healing process.
Ms. Sturgeon continued: “Any lessons learned from this case, and undoubtedly there will be, then of course they require to be applied for the future as well.”I completely comprehend and share the family’s sentiments. I would be saying the exact same things if I were the victim’s family members.

“That being said, I believe it is appropriate that the prison service conducts the most thorough risk evaluations rather than the parole board when making decisions regarding home leave. It’s crucial that stringent guidelines are followed.”

“These are not simple issues, these are really complex issues,” Ms. Sturgeon continued.

McIntosh was characterised as “cunning and violent” by former Det Supt David Swindle, who oversaw investigations into serial killer Peter Tobin.
He stated: “It may be he has worked the system and deceived the professionals.”The fact that he’s on a day release programme and is capable of such a severe attack—and that, had he not been disturbed, he probably would have killed this woman—is really frightening.

“McIntosh poses an extremely high risk of harm to the public and in my mind he should never be allowed back on the streets again.”