By Ben Kerrigan-
A 28-year-old Christopher McGowan(pictured) has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Claire Inglis.
The horrific crime unfolded just weeks after McGowan was granted bail and allowed to live with Inglis, leaving her family devastated and raising serious questions about the justice system’s response to domestic abuse.
McGowan and Inglis, both 28, had been together for a mere eight weeks when McGowan was released to her Stirling flat, which she shared with her young son.
Judge Michael O’Grady did not mince words when he handed down the life sentence, describing McGowan’s actions as “beyond sadistic” and Inglis’s suffering as “nothing short of torture.”
The judge stated, “It was difficult to portray the brutality of what you inflicted on her. You have shown not a flicker of emotion, distress, or remorse.” The courtroom was filled with Ms. Inglis’s weeping family members who had attended every day of the trial.
Christopher McGowan’s release from prison and bail arrangement came after he claimed to be in a “positive” relationship with Inglis and vowed to kick his Valium habit and stop drinking.
Tragically, these promises were mere words, as he proceeded to pawn Inglis’s possessions, including a watch she received for her 21st birthday and her son’s PlayStation.
McGowan brutally attacked and strangled Inglis, even resorting to burning her with a lighter and pushing a wet wipe down her throat. The jury took just over two hours to convict him of murder.
McGowan had an alarming criminal history, with 40 previous convictions, including three for assault, and he was on five bail orders at the time of Inglis’s murder.
His account of events during the trial ranged from claiming self-defense to alleging that Inglis had fallen down the stairs or overdosed on Valium.
Inglis, a mother-of-one, endured a horrifying 76 injuries during the attack, including numerous blunt force impacts to her head and face, and extensive bruising across her skull.
The trial unveiled chaotic scenes both outside and inside her St Ninians’ flat in the aftermath of the attack on November 28, 2021.
As paramedics fought to save Inglis, McGowan followed them into the flat, where he falsely claimed she had fallen down the stairs and ingested a dangerous combination of Valium and cocaine.
During the sentencing, the judge criticized McGowan for accepting no responsibility and attempting to minimize his involvement. Even McGowan’s apparent remorse to social workers after his conviction was deemed by the judge as “a self-serving tissue of lies.”
The case drew attention to systemic failures in addressing domestic abuse and the alarming ease with which individuals with a history of violence can secure bail.
It has left Ms. Inglis’s family grappling with the anguish of her loss and underscores the urgent need for reforms and support for survivors of domestic abuse.