Sexual predator found guilty of murdering woman in 1984

A sexual predator has been convicted of murdering a “trusting and friendly” mother in her home more than 36 years ago after being snared by a “one-in-a-billion” DNA breakthrough.

Convicted rapist Graham McGill, 59, was an inmate at HMP Edinburgh on temporary release in 1984 when he strangled Mary McLaughlin, 58, in Partick, Glasgow.

The mother-of-11 had enjoyed a night out drinking and playing dominoes at different bars on Wednesday September 26 of that year and was last seen at around 10.45pm leaving to go to a chip shop on her way home.

Jurors convicted McGill on Friday at the High Court in Glasgow of murder after deliberating for just over two hours.

Police handout of Mary McLaughlin, as a man has been charged in connection with her death in Glasgow 35 years ago.

The trial has heard Ms McLaughlin was throttled with the cord of her own dressing gown.

McGill, who has sat quietly hunched over in the dock since the trial began on Tuesday wearing the same light-blue rain jacket, made no reaction as he was convicted.

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