A man who murdered his girlfriend before driving around Scotland for days with her body in his car has been jailed for life.
Benjamin McLelland, 36, was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow after he pleaded guilty to killing 35-year-old Kelly May. The court heard the horrific details of how McLelland strangled Ms. May to death at a property in North Lanarkshire.
The subsequent events took a truly macabre turn. Instead of alerting the authorities, McLelland placed his victim's body in the footwell of his Vauxhall Corsa and embarked on a chilling road trip.
A Chilling Journey
Prosecutors detailed how McLelland drove for several days with Ms. May's remains in the passenger side of the vehicle. His aimless and gruesome journey eventually led him to the remote area of Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway.
It was there, near the picturesque but isolated Corsewall Lighthouse, that he finally discarded her body. The beloved mother was discovered by a member of the public, a find that launched a major police investigation.
Justice Served
Lord Armstrong handed down a life sentence, ordering that McLelland must serve a minimum of 18 years behind bars before he can be considered for parole. The judge described the crime as a "brutal and senseless killing" that had devastated a family.
In a moving statement, Kelly May's family expressed their profound grief, saying: "Kelly was a much-loved daughter, sister, and mother, whose death has left a huge hole in all our lives. We are devastated by our loss."
The case serves as a grim reminder of the tragic consequences of domestic violence.
