A woman has been jailed alongside her teenage brother and a friend for killing her ex-boyfriend in an Edinburgh flat last summer.
Ashleigh Wallace, 27, Shaun Wallace, 19, and Patrick Herbert, 37, were all sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh to life imprisonment after being convicted of the murder of Stephen Grant.
They will each spend a minimum of 18 years behind bars after Mr Grant's body was found in the rear garden of a flat on Magdalene Drive on Sunday, July 8, 2018.
Grant, who was 49, had arrived at the property at around 6pm that evening where he met his ex-partner Ashleigh Wallace, her brother Shaun, and their friend Herbert.
An altercation then took place and Grant was stabbed 10 times, inflicting wounds on his head, body and legs before repeatedly striking him with “objects” which remain unknown to police.
Neighbours heard Ashleigh Wallace shout, ‘Kill him, kill him, kill him”.
Shaun Wallace and Herbert then dumped his body in the back garden shortly after 6.15pm.
Ashleigh Wallace then joined the two men in leaving the property before returning to the scene at around 1am the following morning where they were met by police officers.
The trio, all from the Edinburgh area, were arrested and subsequently charged with Mr Grant’s murder later that day.
On 28 March 2019, after a 14-day trial, all three were found guilty of murder at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Twisted sister, brother and pal battered her ex to death as neighbours heard bloodcurdling screams
During the trial, the court heard Stephen used to be Ashleigh Wallace’s partner. But the court heard the pair split as Stephen allegedly had a drink problem.
The jury also heard that before he died, a court had imposed an order banning Stephen from contacting Ashleigh Wallace as he’d allegedly attacked her.
Investigators weren’t able to establish why Stephen was attacked on July 8, 2018.
Detective Inspector Bruce Coutts from Corstorphine CID said: “We welcome the sentencing today of these people who have continued to deny this horrific crime and shown no remorse for their actions.
“Ashleigh Wallace, her brother Shaun Wallace, and Patrick Herbert subjected Mr Grant to a sustained and brutal attack, leaving him for dead in the back garden. The level of violence inflicted upon Mr Grant was shocking, and ultimately cost him his life.
“I’d like to thank the local community for their support whilst our investigations were ongoing, and the assistance and cooperation of Mr Grant’s friends and family. I hope that the conclusion of today’s proceedings will help them to move forward with their lives.
“Violent incidents cause fear to local communities and the unnecessary harm to individuals. There is no place for it in society and we will always ensure that perpetrators of violent crime are brought before the courts.”
