The Aftermath

"This is one of the most desperately sad cases that I have ever encountered." Defence counsel Mr Findlay, BBC, 8 Dec 2008

Although Ross is sentenced to a minimum of 25 years after being found guilty he still claims to be innocent.In 2010 he begins an appeal on the grounds that the interviews conducted by the police when he was 15 were prejudiced. His legal team argue that police interviews, carried out without lawyers present when Ross was 15 and 16, were “unfair”.

It is claimed that the Crown’s actions, in relying upon the evidence obtained during the interviews, are incompatible with his human rights.The convicted killer’s legal team further argue that the trial judge “erred” by refusing to allow the defence to read evidence from a psychologist. But Scotland’s top judge, the Lord Justice General Lord Hamilton, who heard the case with Lords Carloway and Bonomy, upheld the conviction.

The 33-year-old could still go to the Supreme Court in London to appeal. He does so and loses in May 2012.