THE family of a murdered woman have said they had been let down by the justice system after judges cut her killer's minimum sentence.
Thomas Brophy raped and murdered Laura Donnelly, 22, as she walked home after a night out in Paisley in 1999. The 26-year-old was arrested after an appeal on BBC's Crimewatch.
Judges recommended Brophy should serve a minimum of 20 years. However, after a hearing at the Court of Session on Friday, Brophy will now be able to apply for parole after 16 years.
Ms Donnelly's brother, Alan, 33, was reported as saying: "I feel very let down by the justice system. When Brophy was sentenced there was a sort of closure for us, but this has brought it all back. He'll be up for parole now in 2016."
The decision was made at a hearing before Lord Gill, lord justice clerk, and Lady Cosgrove. Brophy's lawyers are understood to have argued Lord Wheatley did not give sufficient weight to his personal circumstances.
The Scottish Executive said it would not be appropriate to comment.
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