The parents of a mum murdered by her ex-partner are planning to scatter her ashes in Paris – but fear it could be overshadowed by her killer’s campaign to reduce his sentence.
Claire Inglis’s parents Ian and Fiona Inglis will head to the French capital with her young son next month because it’s the place she had loved since a family holiday when he was 10.
She had hoped to return one day with her little boy but instead he’ll be there to help pay tribute to his mum.
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But their planned journey falls days after a hearing in Edinburgh in which appeal judges will hear a plea by her killer Christopher McGowan, to have his sentence shortened.
The violent abuser, who had 39 previous convictions, including for violence and aggravated domestic assault against a former partner, was jailed for at least 23 years for torturing Claire to death in 2021.
Weeks after the trial in October, McGowan, 28, instructed his legal team to appeal his sentence.
Claire’s mum Fiona, from Stirling, said: “It’s a travesty that he was ever allowed to appeal. He tortured our daughter and we believe he should be locked up for the rest of his life.
“We have chosen to scatter Claire’s ashes in Paris because we had family holidays there when she was 10 and she always said it was the best time of her life.
“She loved Tinkerbell and had always wanted to take her son there so we felt it was only right to lay her to rest there while her son and some of those who loved her were there.
“However it’s awful to know that his appeal is set for the week before we go to Paris and we desperately want the right decision to be made and his appeal to be thrown out.”
Fiona, 63, added: “Appealing shows he has no remorse for taking Claire’s life and leaving her son without his mum.
“McGowan was a danger to women before he met Claire and there is no way he will change while in prison.
“We miss Claire every day. McGowan took her life and ruined our lives. Why should he not pay the price?”
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McGowan murdered Claire, 28, six weeks after he had been released on bail to her home which she shared with her son.
McGowan, under five bail orders including two to Claire’s home, battered and strangled Claire, burned her face with a lighter and choked her with a wet wipe.
Her parents have pleaded for answers over the decision to bail McGowan to her Stirling address.
In February First Minister Humza Yousaf promised to review their plea to hold a public inquiry into her death.
Fiona said: “After we lay Claire to rest we will continue our fight to have an independent review and hopefully the law will change so no other family will have to endure the heartache that we do.”
Scots Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay MSP said: “While Ian and Fiona scatter Claire’s ashes, they continue to be tortured by the continuing actions of her killer.
“I remain hopeful that the First Minister will find a way in which they are given the answers they deserve.
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