Christopher Harrisson, the former scientist convicted of murdering his ex-wife Brenda Page almost 45 years after the killing, has died in prison. The Scottish Prison Service confirmed that Harrisson, 82, died at HMP Grampian on October 2. His cause of death is unknown at this stage, but a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.
Brutal murder in 1978
Harrisson subjected Brenda Page, 32, to a "sustained and vicious" attack, repeatedly beating her over the head with a blunt object in Aberdeen. The body of the genetics expert, described as a "brilliant scientist", was found on her blood-stained bed in her home on 14 July 1978. The murder happened a year after the couple divorced.
Harrisson evaded justice for decades until the case was re-examined in 2020, when advances in DNA technology led to his arrest. He was found guilty of murder following a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen in March 2023 and was jailed for life, ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years before he could apply for parole.
DNA and paint evidence
The court heard that a minute flake of paint found on Dr Page's bedroom window, which had been forced open, was matched to paint on Harrisson's Mini Traveller car. DNA evidence was also central to the case: one sperm sample was 590 million times more likely to have come from Harrisson than from any other male unrelated to him.
The jury was told Dr Page lived in fear of her former husband and had told associates she feared he would one day kill her. Hand-written letters detailed abuse she suffered. In one, Dr Page asked her lawyer to ensure she receive a thorough post-mortem should she ever die suddenly. In a letter from Harrisson to Dr Page, he acknowledged his "rages of which you are afraid".
Family tribute after conviction
Harrisson met Dr Page, who was principal of the genetics department at the University of Aberdeen's medical school, while they were students at the University of Glasgow in 1970. They married in 1972 but divorced five years later. The trial heard that Dr Page lived in fear of Harrisson following their split, with prosecutors claiming he had been "consumed with rage and anger" and upset at her part-time work with an escort agency.
Following Harrisson's conviction, a statement released via Police Scotland on behalf of Brenda's family paid tribute to her but lamented the time taken to bring him to justice, noting that some relatives were no longer alive to see the conviction. The family said: "We as a family are absolutely delighted with the verdict of today's trial. Brenda's murder, nearly 45 years ago at the incredibly young age of 32, has affected the family and so many of her friends, work colleagues and of course Police Scotland. Not a day goes by when we don’t think about Brenda and the horrendous ordeal she must have suffered that night."
The statement continued: "Brenda was an extremely kind, intelligent woman with her whole life ahead of her. It hurts us to think of the great things she would have undoubtedly achieved. Forty-five years is a long time to be at liberty whilst the family have endured such tragedy, sadness and loss. It is a great sadness that some of our family and friends are no longer with us to see this day but we are delighted that Brenda's sister has finally seen Christopher Harrisson found guilty of the brutal crime she always knew he committed."
