DEVASTATED family and friends have appealed to cold-blooded killer David Gilroy to end their torment and reveal where he buried Suzanne Pilley's body.
Their call, which was echoed by prosecutors and detectives, came after Gilroy, 49, was found guilty yesterday of killing his 38-year-old former lover and work colleague.
The verdict was welcomed by the Edinburgh book-keeper's parents Rob Pilley, 68, and his wife Sylvia, 69, who said: "Although the trial has ended, our ordeal goes on, and we hope that one day we can lay our daughter to rest."
Detective Superintendent Gary Flannigan, who led the investi- gation, urged Gilroy to ease the couple's anguish, saying: "There's only one person who knows where Suzanne is, to our knowledge, and that's clearly David Gilroy. For her family and friends' benefit, we would hope that he would let us know.
"For most victims of crime, they will know what has happened and they get to bury their loved one. This has not been possible for the Pilley family."
The Advocate Depute who led the case for the Crown, Alex Prentice, QC, also said of Suzanne's friends and family: "The heartache suffered is increased by her remains never being located." Procurator-fiscal Stephen McGowan also said their pain was "made all the worse by her body never having been found".
There were angry scenes at the emotional close of the case that saw Gilroy found guilty by majority following the 17-day trial.
As the verdict was read out, Gilroy's wife Andrea bowed her head briefly.
She left the High Court in Edinburgh with Gilroy's father and a group of friends, and a member of the public shouted: "Do you know where the body is buried?"
Another member of the public shouted: "Why did you stand by him?"
In a statement after the verdict, Mr and Mrs Pilley said: "This day has been a long time coming but finally
Suzanne has received the justice she deserved.
"As a family we continue to struggle to come to terms with losing her. We have lost our daughter but her memory lives on in everyone who knew her.
"Suzanne was a devoted daughter, a supportive friend and an exemplary colleague at work. She was a proud Scot who led a full and active life, and enjoyed the great outdoors, always walking, cycling and keeping fit.
"We have been met with nothing but kindness from her many friends during this time of great sorrow."
Gilroy was jealous and possessive and had killed Ms Pilley because she tried to break off their stormy two-year relationship.
Mr Flannigan said: "He was controlling, he pestered her."
Gilroy had sent Ms Pilley 400 texts in the month before her disappearance, and these stopped instantly after she had vanished.
While frantic friends and family tried over and over to contact her mobile phone, Gilroy did not.
Mr McGowan said: "The disappearance of Suzanne Pilley and the anguish this has caused her family and friends has been unimaginable.
"David Gilroy was a deceitful and controlling individual who pestered Suzanne with hundreds of messages, and then killed her when she told him their affair was over."
Simon Peck, director at IML, where Gilroy and Ms Pilley both worked, said: "Suzanne was a much-loved friend and colleague. The revulsion and disgust felt towards David Gilroy cannot be expressed.
"We owe a sincere debt of gratitude to the officers of Lothian and Borders Police for their tremendously diligent efforts in securing this conviction.
"I can only hope that this verdict gives some small degree of comfort to Suzanne's parents and her many friends.
"But until David Gilroy reveals where Suzanne's body lies, her family and friends will never be able to fully come to terms with her loss."
In an unusual move, Gilroy's family made a statement: "We are devastated about the verdict.
"The family has always believed in David's innocence and continue to do so."
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