The man who murdered Irish student Karen Buckley in April has been sentenced to 23 years behind bars. Alexander Pacteau, 21, was given life – with a minimum of 23 years – at the High Court Of Justiciary in Glasgow. Karen’s parents were there to watch the sentencing.
Karen, 24, from Mourneabbey in Co Cork, went missing after a night out at Sanctuary Nightclub on 12 April. She had moved to Glasgow to study in city's Caledonian University.
Her disappearance sparked one of the biggest missing persons searches undertaken by Glasgow police – with 500 police officers trying to find out where she was. Tragically, her body was found on a farm on the outskirts of the city four days later.
Procurator Fiscal for the West of Scotland David Harvie said: “This was a complex investigation made harder by the fact Alexander Pacteau tried to cover up his horrendous crime. Firstly he tried to dispose of Karen's body and then he repeatedly lied to the police about his actions.”
He added: “Pacteau has taken a young woman from her loving family and friends. He
During sentencing at the High Court Of Justiciary in Glasgow, Judge Lady Rae described Karen’s murder as brutal and motiveless.
“By the time of your first encounter with the police you must have been aware that her family was anxious for news of her, because there had been extensive media coverage seeking information as to her whereabouts but you kept silent,” she said.
“Your killing of this young woman, combined with the extraordinary lengths to which you went to cover it up display the actions of a callous and calculating man.”
Following the news, Karen’s parents – who had travelled from Co Cork for the sentencing – gave a statement outside court.
It read: “Today’s sentence will not bring our beautiful Karen back. Our little angel has been taken from us forever in the cruellest of ways. We mourn for her every day.
“It will however ensure that women are safe from harm from the truly evil coward who took our beautiful Karen's precious life. I hope that he is never released and spends every day in prison haunted by what he did.”
They added: “Karen is at peace now and we know that she is in heaven looking down on us and helping us.”