Murderer shows no remorse for motiveless attack on girl

the frenzied attack.

Fraser Urquhart, 19, a factory worker, admitted the murder in Mintlaw,

near Peterhead. It was described by one of the North-east's most

experienced police officers as the most horrific he had ever seen.

After leaving a disco with Diane Grieve, 17, a trainee chef at the

Waterside Inn, Peterhead, Urquhart led her to the rear of Mintlaw

Academy, which was a shortcut to her home as well as a favourite

courting spot. He then beat her to death with his hands, a large tree

branch and her own shoe.

When her body was found, several letters were written in her own blood

on her thigh, but police could not decipher them. It was also clear she

had been sexually assaulted with a tree branch.

Aberdeen High Court heard yesterday that it seems certain she became

unconscious after the first blow, and did not suffer a prolonged ordeal.

Advocate-depute Mr Ian Peebles, QC, told the court that on the night

of the murder Miss Grieve, who lived in Old Deer, had gone out with a

number of friends. After visiting one disco, she ended up in another

called Traks.

While there she had an argument with her boyfriend, and was later seen

in the company of Urquhart. At about 1am the two left the disco

together.

''At various times they were said to be holding hands and walking arm

in arm by various witnesses,'' said Mr Peebles.

''About 1.20am Urquhart and Diane were seen walking towards the back

of Mintlaw Academy. It was the last time Diane was seen alive.''

The next morning about 8.35 her body was found at the rear of the

school.

''She had been beaten to such an extent she was unrecognisable. She

had to be identified by her dental records and GP records.''

Mr Peebles referred Lord Cullen to police photographs which ''vividly

illustrated the extent of the attack'' and said the injuries were so

severe that words could not properly describe them.

As well as being punched and kicked she had been beaten by the heel of

one of her shoes and beaten with a tree branch.

''It was a vicious attack,'' he said. ''The branch used had been torn

from a tree nearby. It was a vicious and prolonged attack on this young

girl. It is at least thought the young girl was probably unconscious

from the first blow onwards, and did not suffer overly from these

repeated blows.''

Mr Peebles told Lord Cullen he did not intend detailing the torso and

lower body injuries. It was sufficient to indicate that these covered 11

pages of the pathologist's report.

He concluded: ''The Crown knows nothing as to what led up to this

assault.''

Mr Ian Hamilton, QC, for the defence, offered no explanation either.

''No words of mine can mitigate the sentence which must be passed by

the court,'' he said.

Mr Hamilton wanted to draw attention to the fact that four

phychiatrists who had examined Urquhart had found him sane and fit to

plead, and there was no question of diminished responsibility at the

time of the attack, which was why he had taken the rare step of pleading

guilty to murder.

He also asked Lord Cullen to accept that Urquhart had confessed to the

crime during a long police interview, and had been convicted in terms of

his own confession.

Urquhart, a slight and short man, stood impassive in the dock as Lord

Cullen sentenced him to life in a Young Offenders Institution.

Afterwards, Superintendent Alex Den said dealing with the case had

been a harrowing experience. ''This was one of the most horrific murders

I have had to deal with.''