A “beyond sadistic” man who murdered his new girlfriend weeks after being bailed to her home has been jailed for a minimum of 23 years.
Christopher McGowan, 28, strangled Claire Inglis, also 28, to death at her home in Stirling, Scotland in November 2021 just weeks after he was bailed to her home. The pair had been together for just eight weeks.
The mother-of-one suffered 76 injuries during the savage attack including the bruising of almost her entire skull. Her murder has renewed calls for stronger systematic protections for vulnerable women.
Chief executive of Scottish Women’s Aid, Marsha Scott, told The Independent that there needed to be more thorough risk assessments done when violent men are released on bail in light of Ms Inglis’ death.
“It’s not about pointing the finger at one person, it’s a systematic issue”, she said. “When we see someone in the criminal justice system who has repeatedly breached bail, clearly shows no sign that he is going to abide by rules of subsequent conditions and also has a history of violent offending and domestic abuse there needs to be a basic set of questions that should be asked every time”
She continued: “We need to ask every time: is this man safe to be out? Is his community safe if he’s released? And are women and children in his household and related households safe if he’s released?
“Time after time we see cases and reviews of women and child deaths where the role of violent men - often with an extremely transparent history of violence - is minimised.”
Scotland’s Procurator Fiscal for homicide, Moira Orr, said McGowan “displayed aggressive and controlling behaviour” before the murder.
Claire Inglis was caught on CCTV shopping shortly before she was killed— (Police Scotland)
She said: “This is a heartbreaking case of the murder of a young mother – Claire Inglis by her abusive partner. Christopher McGowan showed cruelty and contempt for Claire, and his actions have left her family devastated.
“As prosecutors, we have worked to deliver justice for Claire. The case was carefully investigated by COPFS working with Police Scotland, demonstrating that McGowan had displayed aggressive and controlling behaviour towards Claire prior to her murder.
Domestic Abuse Campaigner David Challen told The Independent: “Serious questions need to be raised as to why McGowan, a known criminal with a history of significant violence, was allowed to be bailed back to his partners’ flat.
“The decision to put McGowan’s request for bail above that of the safety of vulnerable people in society highlights how the system is continuously weighted in favor of violent perpetrators and actively puts victims at risk.
Charity Refuge said Mcgowen “should never have been bailed to Claire’s home”. They added “serious questions” must be asked about the lessons learned so that “women are better protected from dangerous men.”
In a sentencing statement later published online, Judge O’Grady added that Ms Inglis was subjected to “nothing short of torture”.
Christopher McGowan was bailed to Claire Inglis’ adress just weeks before murdering her— (PA)
He said: “I shudder to imagine what her last minutes were like. To describe what you did as sadistic falls woefully short of the mark. It was beyond sadistic.”
The judge said that while listening to evidence McGowan had shown “not a flicker of emotion, not a hint of distress, not a shadow of remorse”.
Mcgowen was sentenced on Wednesday morning at the High Court in Edinburgh to a minimum of 23 years behind bars following a trial at the High Court in Stirling last month. McGowan had 39 previous convictions with a history of offending beginning around 14 years ago.
The sentencing has sparked conversation on social media. Criminal behavioral analyst and expert on domestic abuse Laura Richards said the incident was “unacceptable” and asked, “How many more women must die?”
A spokesperson for Solace Women’s Aid said: “Our hearts go out to Claire’s family for everything that they have endured. As always we send our condolences and we stand in solidarity with everyone seeking justice for those they have lost as a result of male violence.
“This is a horrible case and one where the perpetrator has shown no remorse and taken no responsibility for his actions. We hope that seeing justice being done will bring her family some comfort.”
If you need to speak to someone regarding domestic violence, call 0800 027 1234 for Scottish Women’s Aid or find help at Women’s Aid here: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/
