A KILLER has had the minimum length of time he must spend behind bars cut from 19 years to 14 years, writes Alex Schweitzer-Thomson.
It follows a successful appeal by Dean Rippon who was given a life sentence after admitting murdering his best friend, Christopher Swailes.
Mr Swailes was found stabbed at his home in Hawick’s Liddesdale Road in November.
Rippon, formerly of Stonefield Place in Hawick, used a filleting knife and a whisky bottle in the attack which left his victim dead from a stab wound to the chest and injuries to the head.
The 20-year-old, currently a prisoner at Polmont Young Offenders’ Institution, near Falkirk, launched his appeal against the 19-year term by citing a previous ruling that knife murderers should serve a minimum of 16 years and argued that High Court judge Lady Smith had not taken into account certain factors – such as Rippon’s lack of a record for violence – when handing down a 21-year punishment term. Rippon also argued that the subsequent cut of two years to 19 years because of his early guilty plea was not enough of a reduction. Lady Smith applied a reduction of one 11th (nine per cent) of the term.
However, it was stressed at the appeal court last week that Rippon could not have pleaded guilty any earlier than he did because of psychological and psychiatric problems. The reduction in term was increased to one sixth (16 per cent).
Following the appeal court ruling, Rippon’s solicitor, Rory Bannerman, commented: “The accused was pleased with the outcome, but still appreciated that the crime was completely unjustified and that he deserved a long prison sentence.”
Rippon, who is set to be transferred to Shotts high security prison in Lanarkshire during the coming weeks, originally told detectives he could not have committed the murder as he had been in police custody at the time.
He told investigating detectives: “I’m not getting done for murder. It couldn’t be me because I was in custody at Hawick last night.
“I wouldn’t hit him [Mr Swailes] over the head – he’s not got a fight in him, he’s my best mate.”
After the attack, Rippon made his way to Morrisons supermarket in Hawick, but was asked to stop by a security officer before running off. He was later held by police on suspicion of shoplifting.
And he was arrested the following day by police probing the killing when he was about to be released at Selkirk Sheriff Court after significant blood staining was spotted on his clothing and footwear.
Officers had already found Mr Swailes in his Liddesdale Road flat with his dog standing over him.