THE grieving parents of murder victim Liam Aitchison said they will campaign to stop anyone charged with murder being released on bail.
Liam's father Norrie Aitchison and stepmother Claire, spoke of their hurt at knowing Johnathan MacKinnon and Stefan Millar were able to roam about before and during the trial.
The pair were convicted on Monday at the High Court in Glasgow of murdering Liam on November 23, 2011, at a disused building in Steinish on the Isle of Lewis
Liam is thought to have been pole-axed with a beer bottle before being knifed and beaten to death.
He was stabbed 20 times and suffered multiple blunt-force head injuries, including a fractured jaw and nose.
Two major arteries were struck, which a pathologist told the court would have been fatal.
The killers then left their victim and clambered out of the blood-soaked building without leaving any significant trace they had been there.
Mr Aitchison said: "We want to head up a campaign to keep anyone that is charged with murder on remand until proven innocent or guilty.
"There was Facebook pictures of them having fun and being drunk. One of them got his girlfriend pregnant. To hear that was devastating.
"Stefan Millar's girlfriend is pregnant. That's what we heard. Liam will never have a child. I will never have a grandchild from Liam."
Claire added: "This is something we both feel strongly about."
Millar was bailed in December 2011 and Norrie and Claire found out only days before Christmas and had to hold it together for the sake of their children.
MacKinnon was released on bail the following February.
Liam has five sisters and a brother, ranging from seven years of age to 22.
Mr Aitchison said: "We were telling them all the time the bad men are in jail. On December 23, when they said Stefan got released, we had to keep saying to the children they are in jail. They will never get out. We have been lying to them for 18 months and it broke our hearts."
Mr Aitchison said it is a disgrace his son's killers were bailed, adding: "It's just unreal that any sheriff can say you are deemed safe after you have been charged with murder and they are deemed safe to walk about in the public domain.
"It's just not right. I feel very strongly."
He said the accused intimidated friends and family of Liam at the three-week trial and made people feel uncomfortable.
Mr Aitchison said he has no feelings towards his son's killers but both he and Liam's stepmother said that if they had the chance to speak to them they would ask only one question: why?
He said: "I have no feelings towards them. They have taken away the most precious thing in my life. They are in the best place possible and they can stay there.
"We will see this all the way through – if they appeal or anything, we will be there."
MacKinnon and Millar are due to be sentenced later this month at the High Court in Edinburgh.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Clearly, our thoughts are with the family of the victim at this difficult time.
"In relation to bail – such decisions are matters for the court, which are independent of Government. In each case the court is under a statutory obligation to have regard to the public interest, including the interests of public safety, when reaching that decision."
A Crown Office spokesman said: "When Johnathan Mackinnon and Stefan Millar appeared from custody in relation to the murder of Liam Aitchison, the Procurator Fiscal opposed bail in relation to both accused. Bail was granted by the court. The court is ultimately responsible for bail and bail conditions."
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