Shaun Woodburn family told no appeal over killer's sentence

A HEARTBREAKING bid by the parents of tragic footballer Shaun Woodburn to have his killer's sentence increased has been rejected by prosecutors.

Police Scotland can confirm the name of the 30-year-old man who died following an incident in Leith. He was Shaun Woodburn of Edinburgh. Mr Woodburn died after he sustained serious injuries following a disturbance in Great Junction Street around 2am on Sunday, January 1. He was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment where has sadly passed away later that day. In a statement issued through Police Scotland, Mr Woodburns family said: Shaun was first and foremost a fantastic and loving dad, he was a great and caring son, brother, partner and friend. He was a hard working young man loved by all of his colleagues and had an honours degree in architectural engineering from Heriot Watt University. Shaun also had a passion for playing football and latterly with Bonnyrigg Rose only to give up to spend more time with his family.

Mum Denise Syme broke the news on facebook that the four year term handed to the teen killer of her son will stand.

That’s despite more than 66,000 people signing a petition and the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon writing to them offering her sympathies.

Last night, thanking all those who back them, she said: “#justiceforshaun - I just want to let all my friends and all the people that signed the petition know that we have not been granted the appeal for Shaun’s killer’s sentence to be lengthened. We have now the agonising wait to find out if the killer’s appeal against his conviction will be granted. Life is so unfair and unjust we are all broken.”

She added: “But he ..the killer will be smiling tonight.”

Dad Kevin Woodburn also Tweeted: “The crown and lord advocate have DENIED us our appeal against the joke sentence passed on our sons killer. I thank all of you that have signed our petition and we are trly grateful to u all. However WE WILL NOT STOP, our fight continues.more to follow soon #justiceforShaun “

His attacker, now 17, cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced for Shaun’s culpable homicide at Glasgow High Court.

He was convicted of his killing after a court heard how he had punched Shaun in the head and caused him to fall to the ground outside Gladstone’s Bar in Leith on December 31.

He has lodged notice of his intention to appeal for a lower sentence.

Last night the Crown Office said: “The Crown can proceed with an appeal that the sentence is unduly lenient only where the relevant test is met, namely, whether the sentence falls outside the range of sentences that a judge applying his or her mind to all of the relevant factors could reasonably have considered appropriate. This criteria is well established in case law. In this case, Crown Counsel have concluded that the test for an appeal has not been met and accordingly have decided there will be no appeal against the sentence. We have discussed this decision with the family of Shaun Woodburn.”

Tory MSP Miles Briggs said: “The Crown’s decision not to appeal the sentence given to the person found guilty of the culpable homicide of Shaun Woodburn will be greeted with anger, shock and bemusement by people across Edinburgh and the Lothians. My heart goes out to the Woodburn family who will be further devastated by this news.”

He added: “This case raises wider questions about the justice system and sentencing guidelines and I will pursue these in Parliament. At the very least the First Minister should meet the Woodburn family as soon as possible so she can hear first-hand their concerns about their experience of the justice and sentencing system.”