News In Focus
1 April 2009
Rapist fails to jump through "loophole"
A convicted rapist who claimed he could not be sentenced after months of sacking successive defence lawyers, yesterday had an order for lifelong restriction imposed on him.
John Munro (35) was given the order by Lord Kinclaven at the High Court in Edinburgh after being refused more time to engage new lawyers. Having had his case adjourned for over a year in total due to his ploy of dismissing his lawyers shortly before each hearing was due to take place, Munro also argued unsuccessfully that the court was time barred from sentencing him.
The court was told that Munro had attacked an 18-year-old woman in Barrhead, Renfrewshire on a Sunday morning and compressed her neck unti she fell unconscious, before raping her. A background report by a forensic psychologist stated that he posed a high risk for sexual, violent offending and to the safety of the public.
The order imposed involves an indefinite prison sentence with a minimum of eight years before Munro can be considered for release. If he released he remains subject to a lifelong management order.