A 25-year-old who carried out one of the North-east's most brutal murders has died in Peterhead Prison, writes Graeme Smith.

Fraser Urquhart, from Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, was serving life, having beaten 17-year old Diane Grieve to death with his hands, a large branch and her own shoe in a seemingly motiveless attack after leaving a disco with her.

Urquhart, who was jailed in 1993, was found dead in Peterhead Prison's hospital ward early yesterday morning.

He had collapsed two weeks ago and died of a suspected brain haemorrhage.

Urquhart returned to the prison hospital last Tuesday for 10 days bed rest -but staff could not wake him yesterday.

A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said Urquhart's next-of-kin had been informed and a fatal accident inquiry would be held.

Urquhart had left a disco with Diane after she had broken up with her boyfriend.

When her body was found, several letters were written in her own blood on her thigh, but police could not decipher them. She had been sexually assaulted.

The officer in charge of the case said it was one of the most horrific murders he had ever had to deal with.

Urquhart admitted the crime but showed no remorse when he appeared in court.

Diane Grieve's father, Alan, 48, was shocked when told about the death of her killer.

''Everybody gets paid back one way or another,'' he said last night.

''I did not know him - but it has come as a bit of a shock as he was a young guy.''