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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Man found guilty of murdering Filipina, her daughter in Scotland

Man found guilty of murdering Filipina, her daughter in Scotland

Published Feb 7, 2023 04:16 pm

A man was found guilty by the Edinburgh High Court on Monday, Feb. 6, of murdering a Filipina and her daughter in his home in Dundee, Scotland on March 18, 2021.

In a report from Sky News, Andrew Innes, 52, has been jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 36 years for the murder of Bennylyn Burke, 25, and her two-year-old daughter Jellica.

In sentencing Innes, Supreme Courts Judge Lord John Beckett said the charges were "amongst the very worst crimes which have come before the High Court".

"You murdered an innocent woman and her two-year-old daughter in a situation where they had trusted you and travelled with you from Bristol to your home in Dundee," Beckett said.

Reports said Innes killed Bennylyn and Jellica after bringing them to his home in Dundee. He hit Burke's head with a hammer multiple times before stabbing her with a Japanese samurai sword. He then proceeded to strangle Jellica to death two days later.

Authorities found Bennylyn and Jellica's bodies buried under his kitchen floor.

Aside from the murder charges, Innes was also found guilty of sexually assaulting Jellica and raping another child.

According to Beckett, the young rape victim now does not trust men, is scared of blood and always looks for an escape route.

During the trial, Innes claimed diminished responsibility, saying that he committed the murder because of his medication after being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Crohn’s Disease.

However, the judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support Innes' defence that his medication had caused him to suffer steroid-induced psychosis which led to him going "insane".

In a statement issued via the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Burke's family said: "Bennylyn was the hope and light of our family. That light has been cruelly snuffed out."

They added: "We cannot drive from our minds what happened to her and what happened to Jellica, or the fear they must have felt after experiencing violence from Andrew Innes.

"A big part of our family has been torn from us. We shall never see Bennylyn and Jellica again. We shall never know our beloved Jellica or ever see her grow up. There is nothing that can restore Bennylyn and Jellica to us. But the jury's guilty verdict for murder provides some comfort to our family and friends and brings justice for Bennylyn and Jellica."

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filipina Scotland MURDER
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