A man who was found guilty of murdering his scientist ex-wife more than 40 years ago is set to appeal his conviction.
Retired research scientist Christopher Harrisson killed 32-year-old Brenda Page at her flat in Aberdeen’s Allan Street in July 1978.
Harrisson, 82, denied all the charges – but was found guilty of the murder on March 9, and sentenced to life with a minimum period of 20 years before he would be eligible for parole.
The judge said Harrisson, who has no previous convictions, had carried out a “premeditated” attack after stalking Dr Page.
STV News understands that he is now set to appeal against the conviction and sentence, along with an extension of time application.
READ MORE: Brenda Page murder mystery finally solved after 45 years
Police ScotlandWhat happened to Brenda Page?
Originally from East Anglia, Dr Page lived alone with her three cats on Allan Street, a quiet residential road not far from the city centre.
She left work on Thursday, July 13, 1978, to go home in preparation for an evening out.
In the early hours of the following morning – Friday, July 14 – Dr Page left the Treetops Hotel in Aberdeen after enjoying a meal and some drinks to travel home. She was dining with two men. A second woman was supposed to have joined them but she never arrived.
STV NewsFollowing dinner, Brenda stayed chatting with the two men until 2.30am in the morning. One of them offered her a lift home but she declined and made the short drive back to her flat alone.
A non-arrival at work the next day immediately raised concerns from her colleagues. One particular colleague could get no reply so he alerted one of Brenda’s neighbours, who discovered her brutally battered body in the bedroom.
The police found Brenda in the bedroom of her flat. She had been badly beaten about the head, having been subjected to a sustained attack.
Harrisson had been apprehended in the hours after the murder but it was decided there was insufficient evidence to take him to court at the time.
STV NewsIn 2015, 37 years after Dr Page’s death, the case was re-investigated after being subject to ongoing reviews over the past four decades.
At the High Court in Aberdeen on March 9, judge Lord Richardson sentenced Harrisson to life with a minimum period of 20 years before he would be eligible for parole.
The judge said Harrisson, who has no previous convictions, had carried out a “premeditated” attack after stalking Ms Page.
He said it was a “sustained and vicious” attack.
Dr Page was laid to rest beside her mother in Ipswich.
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