SENTENCING STATEMENTS

On sentencing, Lord Scott said:

“You have been found guilty of the murder of your friend Ryan Willcox on 28 July 2023, just over 18 months ago.  In convicting you, the jury accepted that the Crown had proved either that you wickedly intended to kill Ryan Willcox or, more likely, that you assaulted and fatally wounded him with wicked recklessness as to whether he lived or died. In doing so, they decided that you were not acting in self-defence. Beyond that, the precise events at the time you stabbed him remain obscure.

There are Victim Impact Statements, prepared by Ryan Willcox’s mother, Nicola Beattie, his father, Robert Willcox and his sister, Ainsleigh Beattie. They each describe the continuing daily impact on them in many different ways, including on their mental health.  

His mother explains how the whole family’s life has been turned upside down and how she aches because of the loss of the son with whom she had a special bond.

His father explains that he is haunted by the images of his son at the mortuary. He says that his life has changed forever with the loss of his only child whose life everything revolved around.

His sister speaks of crying every day but pretending to live a normal life which can’t be normal any more.

It is clear that there has been a significant impact on that family.  Nothing said or done here today, and no sentence I impose will be enough to help Ryan Willcox’s family with the devastating loss of a much loved son, brother, grandson, uncle, cousin and friend to many.

Before passing sentence, I asked for a Justice Social Work Report.  This was with a view to finding out more about your background and any other relevant information before passing a life sentence.

The report explains your account of events which fits with the special defence of self-defence intimated on your behalf which was based on things you said to others about what happened. That defence was rejected by the jury.

This happened at your own home and there was no prelude to what happened between you and Ryan Willcox that would explain it.

It is worth noting that several witness accounts appeared to confirm your immediate shock, remorse and concern for Ryan, with you making efforts to save him which continued until the arrival of the emergency services you had called.

There is no reason to think that what happened was premeditated.  Whatever the truth of matters, the incident involving the fatal blow was over within a matter of seconds. You say that you are devastated at causing the death of a friend. I accept that what you did was not planned or intended but your reaction to whatever Ryan Willcox did, or what you thought he was doing, was wholly disproportionate as he was in fact unarmed and posed no threat to your life, whatever you may have thought at the time.

The report confirms that you suffered a number of adverse childhood experiences. Your mental health issues resulted in a referral to CAMHS but you did not engage with this service. You should seek such support in custody and I note that you intend to undertake training and education courses while serving this sentence. As the report says, you are at the very earliest stages of coming to terms with what you did and intensive work will be necessary by, and with, you to do so.

The report says: ‘At this time, Mr Wilson has been assessed as having limited protective factors in his life to reduce his risk of reoffending and support his rehabilitation.’

I note what Mr Findlay has said on your behalf this morning about the very unusual features of this case, not commonly found in cases of murder.  

I note that you now have one previous conviction on summary complaint which was not for violence and which resulted in a fine.  I give no weight to that conviction. However, you have one other conviction, also at summary level, which included an assault as well as threatening behaviour and resulted in a sentence of 90 days detention.

I have considered all that is said in the Justice Social Work Report and all that has been said on your behalf by Mr Findlay, in particular that you have always accepted responsibility for the death of your friend Ryan Willcox, that you immediately regretted what you had done and sought assistance for him as well as trying to save him yourself.  

The sentence for murder is prescribed by law and is a life sentence.  You are 20 years old and, at the time of the murder, you were 18.  I accordingly have regard to the Guidelines for the Sentencing of Young People which are relevant in your case and which require me to have rehabilitation as a primary consideration given the capacity for change in young people.  They also states that, ‘The culpability of a young person will therefore generally be lower than that of an older person who is to be sentenced for the same, or a similar, offence.’

I bear in mind what is said in paragraphs 20 and 21 of the Young Persons Guideline.

Paragraph 20 states: ‘However, the nature and duration of a sentence imposed on a young person should be different from that which might be imposed on an older person being sentenced for the same, or a similar, offence.’

Paragraph 21 states: 'If a custodial sentence is imposed on a young person, it should be shorter than that which would have been imposed on an older person for the same, or a similar, offence.'

Your sentence is therefore less than it would have been had the Guidelines not applied. As yet, because you have not come to terms with the jury’s verdict, there are only limited signs of a readiness to engage meaningfully with the issues which might prevent rehabilitation but I hope that you focus on this and that you make the use of available supports and services while you are in custody.

In the circumstances and as required by law, I sentence you to detention for life and specify a punishment part of 14 years.  Your sentence will commence in a young offenders institution.  The punishment part will run from 31 July 2023.  You should understand that this is not a sentence of 14 years detention. 14 years represents the minimum time you will have to serve before you can be considered for parole.  Whether, and if so, when, you are released will be a matter for the Parole Board to determine after that 14 year period and will be decided on the basis of the risk you are assessed to pose at that time.”