A RAPIST attacked a teenage girl who took her own life months later.
James Elder pounced on the 19- year-old at his flat in Glasgow’s Parkhead in September 2016. The hysterical victim later tearfully told her mother what happened.
Haunted by her ordeal, the young woman committed suicide at her home in the city’s southside in December 2016.
But she had bravely spoken to police shortly after the rape – and her statement naming Elder as the attacker was read to jurors.
She has now got justice from beyond the grave after the 43-year-old was convicted following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
The victim’s family sobbed and hugged one another as verdict was announced.
There was also a cry of “yes”. They were too upset to comment afterwards.
Ex-waiter Elder – who denied rape – now faces a lengthy jail-term when he is sentenced next
month.
The teenager had ended up at his flat after walking out the family home following a row.
She was later reported missing. The girl eventually returned with two police officers.
Describing her at that time, her mother said: “It was not the daughter I knew. She was hysterical.
“She was just confused, irritable ... just all over the place.”
The mother said her daughter went on to blurt out that Elder “raped” her. The woman told the jury: “She knelt beside me and started crying.
“She put her head on to my lap. I just grabbed her. I put my arms around her and gave her a cuddle. I wish I could do that now.”
Jurors had been told at the start of the trial that the girl took her own life in late December 2016.
Callous Elder wept and dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief when the grim information was read out.
But, despite initially being too traumatised to give a statement, the girl spoke to police the day after
the rape.
The trial was read her harrowing account by one of the officers who met her. The girl recalled being at Elder’s home that night and claimed three further men were also there.
She told police the attack happened after one of the other individuals tried to kiss her.
The victim stated: “I was being held down by my arms and he was having sex with me.”
Elder was remanded in custody by Lord Matthews for sentencing.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel