Murdered mum Jill Barclay was captured on CCTV appearing “very anxious" and "scared" when she became aware that killer Rhys Bennett was following her.
The court heard how Jill, 47, had been out at a concert with a pal in Aberdeen and later went to the Spider’s Web pub in Dyce.
The mother-of-two met labourer Bennett, 23, in the bar where he was on a night out with his work colleagues and the group chatted.
At closing time, Bennett and his colleagues returned to their guesthouse and Jill had a cigarette outside with them before starting to walk home alone at 12.39am.
The court heard how CCTV captured Jill walking then Bennett, dressed in high-vis clothing, following her on Victoria Street.
Advocate depute Lorraine Glancy KC told Edinburgh High Court a dog walker heard a woman scream, “No, no, no” at around 12.50am.
Ms Glancy said Jill suffered a “violent and sustained attack”.
Bennett was ordered to serve a minimum of 24 years in prison for the rape and murder of the proposals engineer.
He appeared from custody at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, May 24, where he admitted the horrific offences.
The court heard CCTV showed Bennett moving around in the area around the derelict buildings where the attack took place at around 1.12am.
Bennett returned to his guesthouse, collected his company van and went back to Victoria Street.
Prosecutors believe he made an aborted attempt to move Jill’s body, due to drag marks found, and also kicked and stamped on her.
Bennett then took a jerry can of petrol and poured it on Jill, adding items of his clothing, and set her alight while she was still alive.
Ms Glancy said an “almost explosive fire” erupted at 3.10am. Bennett then drove back to his home in Fife.
Firefighters were called to the blaze and found the “heavily burned body” at 3.24am, the court was told.
Jill’s partner reported her missing after she failed to return home. Police identified Bennett’s work van from CCTV and traced his boss who identified him as the driver.
Detectives arrested Bennett and found newly washed clothes hanging out to dry at his address.
Pathologists found Jill suffered “blunt force head and facial injuries” including a skull fracture.
Ms Glancy said the pathologists concluded Jill was alive at the time the fire was set and inhaled “hot gases and soot”.
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