Family of murdered Edinburgh woman Elaine Collie let down by ‘blunders’ in justice system around killer's parole hearings

The family of an Edinburgh woman brutally murdered in her own home claim they have been let down by “blunders” in the Scottish justice system around her killer’s parole hearings - including the Justice Minister “ignoring” a formal complaint.

John Reid tortured, sexually assaulted and then suffocated 46-year-old Elaine Collie during a robbery at her Muirhouse home in 1999.

He was jailed for life after pleading guilty to her murder and it was recommended he serve at least 15 years - but the family believe the sentence was too lenient.

Elaine’s brother, Fred Collie and his son, Jason, carried out their own investigation into Reid’s past offences and compiled a dossier of statements from a number of his previous victims, as well as analyses from clinical psychologists. They believe this shows his earlier assault convictions were sexually motivated and part of a pattern of escalating violence that was not taken into account when he was handed the 15-year jail term.

Elaine Collie.

Jason, a journalist for the Evening Standard, told the Edinburgh Evening News: “It’s not so much about keeping him in prison because of what happened to my auntie, but because we do not want another victim.

“He should never be released until the parole board has a cast iron guarantee that he is not a danger to society.”

Since 2014, Reid has been coming up for parole hearings every two years and Elaine’s brother, Fred Collie, as her next of kin, is able to make a representation by sending the dossier to the parole board each time.

But this year, Mr Collie did not receive notification of the parole hearing from the Scottish Prison Service managed Victim Notification Scheme (VNS), and the family said they had to chase it up to discover it was down to an “administrative error,” which an SPS spokesperson has also confirmed.

Jason's wedding picture from 1998. Pictured L-R: Jason Collie, his wife Sarah, his father Fred Collie, an uncle from the other side of the family and Elaine.

Jason said even after this mistake was acknowledged, the SPS refused to email the notification to his father in New Zealand - thought to be over data protection concerns - and that a posted letter took two more months to arrive.

However, the global pandemic may have resulted in mailing delays given that the letter was sent near the start of the first UK lockdown.

Mr Collie raised a formal complaint with Scottish Justice Minister Humza Yousaf in mid April, highlighting his concerns about the handling of the situation and that the VNS’s omission to notify may have, in turn, potentially affected the decision of the parole board at Reid’s hearing in the summer.

Jason acknowledged Reid’s release would have been unlikely - and he remains in prison - but stressed the family wants to ensure such “blunders” are not repeated to ensure other victims’ families are not being “let down” by the system as he feels they have.

Killer: John Reid

But he claims Mr Yousaf “ignored” the formal complaint and request to investigate the matter - despite following up at least twice - and that his failure to respond directly is a “disgrace.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said Mr Collie’s previous correspondence had been passed to the SPS as it related to “operational matters,” and that the most recent letter from Jason has now been brought to the attention of Mr Yousaf who “will respond in due course.”

Jason, 48, said: “After hearing nothing from Mr Yousaf for six months, it is disappointing that he is now promising to respond only after we've been forced to go to the Edinburgh Evening News. That probably reveals everything anyone needs to know.”

Murder

John Reid conned his way into his neighbour Elaine’s flat in Muirhouse in April 1999.

He hit her on the head with a weapon, tied her to a bed and gagged her with a towel before sexually assaulting her. He then tortured her with electric shocks from a blanket.

Reid also forced Elaine to reveal her PIN number and stole jewellery from her home and £350 from her bank account - then suffocated her.

Reid, who is now in his early 60s, claimed he was drunk at the time and could remember nothing of the attack but said he felt remorse for his actions.

At the High Court in Edinburgh in October 1999, he was jailed for life after pleading guilty to her murder.

But Jason claims an “untrue impression” of his previous offending was given through the defence lawyer’s plea in mitigation.

This led to Mr Collie and his son tracking down and interviewing women who were attacked by Reid in 1975, 1985 and 1986. The first and last incidents resulted in him being locked up for three months and a year respectively after admitting assault.

And their investigations suggested both cases involved women being attacked from behind and had sexual elements.

The 1985 case, in which a 14-year-old girl who had been drinking was allegedly lured to his home and forced to undress at knifepoint, was not taken to court.

Details were also uncovered of an alleged assault on a man with learning difficulties in Edinburgh in 1987, which also never went to court.

Jason told the Daily Record previously that the family went to such lengths to investigate because “the justice system has not been able to.”

‘Committed’ to making any improvements

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are very sorry to hear that Mr Collie is unhappy about how his concerns have been handled. His previous correspondence was passed to the SPS as the issues he raised related to operational matters for which Ministers are not involved. However Mr Collie’s most recent letter has been brought to the attention of the Justice Secretary who will respond in due course.

“It is not appropriate for the SG to discuss the Parole Board’s consideration of individual cases – or Mr Collie’s submissions to the Board. But we are absolutely clear that addressing the needs of victims should be at the heart of the justice system. Victims and their families are able to make representations to the Parole Board under the Victims Notification Scheme, the Parole Board can permit the families of victims to attend hearings as observers and they can set exclusion zones as a condition of parole licence.

“We are currently amending the Parole Board Rules to make clear that the Board can take the safety and security of victims and families of victims into account when considering release, and is able to publish a summary of its decisions, while also providing for a defined process for victims and their families to attend parole hearings.

“The Justice Secretary has also committed to bringing all relevant partners together to discuss the Victim Notification Scheme and determine where improvements could be made.”

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said they do not comment on individual cases.

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