Two men have been jailed for life over the murder of an Aberdeen offshore worker.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, murderers Steven Dickie and Callum Davidson were given life sentences with minimum terms of 23 and 24 years respectively for the “savage and depraved” brutality which ended the life of 27-year-old Steven Donaldson.
Mr Donaldson’s former girlfriend Tasmin Glass – who was convicted of culpable homicide after luring him to a Kirriemuir playpark on a warm night a year ago next week – was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison.
Mr Donaldson, from Arbroath, worked as a tool specialist for Aberdeen-based oil firm Interwell and is understood to have owned property in the city.
The discovery of his battered and burned body beside the charred shell of his BMW at Kirriemuir’s Loch of Kinnordy nature reserve just before 5am on June 7 last year sparked one of the largest police investigations ever seen in Angus, with a two-mile cordon and no-fly zone set up around the wildlife attraction.
Judge Lord Pentland told the trio, who all come from Kirriemuir, he was obliged to send them to prison.
He ordered Glass be detained for 10 years and told Davidson he would have to serve at least 24 years. Dickie was told he would have to serve at least 23 years.
Passing sentence, Lord Pentland said Dickie and Davidson had used “extreme violence” in a “sustained and prolonged” attack on their victim who was “loved and admired” by friends and family.
He added: “He had many years left to look forward to. You cut him down without mercy.”
He told Glass she had lured Mr Donaldson to the place he was attacked and eventually lost his life.
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Lord Pentland added: “You returned home where you continued to go on with your normal routine. You showed a chilling coolness. You are manipulative and devious in advancing your own interests.”
Dickie’s defence lawyer Ian Duguid QC said his client still maintained he had nothing to do with Mr Donaldson’s death.
However, the court heard Dickie felt regret for Mr Donaldson’s family at having to lose their loved one.
Davidson’s advocate Jonathan Crowe said his client also expressed sorrow for Mr Donaldson’s family’s loss. Mr Crowe added: “He has expressed feelings of empathy for Mr Donaldson’s family.”
Glass’s lawyer Mark Stewart QC said there was no evidence to show that Glass knew her boyfriend was set to be murdered.
Mr Stewart added: “Tasmin Glass did not foresee the likelihood of lethal force being used against Mr Donaldson.”
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