Donna Marie Brand, 47, who lured schoolgirl Caroline Glachan to her brutal murder in 1996, has died in prison. She passed away in custody on Wednesday, 26 August.
Brand was sentenced in December 2023 after being convicted of the murder of 14-year-old Caroline. She was imprisoned alongside Robert O'Brien, 45, and Andrew Kelly following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Brand had been serving a life sentence at Corton Vale and was ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years.
Murder at River Leven
Caroline was killed by the three perpetrators at the River Leven in West Dunbartonshire 30 years ago. The trial heard how the group arranged to meet the teenager on 25 August that year at a bridge near the river.
The trio subjected Caroline to a torrent of abuse, repeatedly punching and kicking her about the head and body. They hurled bricks and other similar objects at the young girl, inflicting blunt force trauma to her head and body. She was pushed or fell into undergrowth and her body was subsequently discovered in the river at Place of Bonhill in Renton. Caroline had been in a relationship with O'Brien, known as Robbie, at the time of the tragedy.
Court testimony
During the trial, the court heard from Caroline's mother, Margaret McKeich, who said her daughter was "infatuated" with her boyfriend O'Brien, who then went on to murder her. Mrs McKeich said her daughter had previously disclosed O'Brien had "lifted his hands to her". Her daughter's body was found on the day of the mother's 40th birthday.
Caroline's childhood friend Joanne Menzies, 42, subsequently told the court that O'Brien had made threats to kill her for "kissing another boy", and that she had witnessed O'Brien intimidate the schoolgirl on multiple occasions. The court also heard how Brand "threatened to batter" Caroline upon discovering that O'Brien was involved with both of them simultaneously. The killer was reportedly left "unhappy" about the discovery.
Fatal Accident Inquiry
A Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held into Brand's death in custody. A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: "Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual. Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised, and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Fatal Accident Inquiries are held in due course."
