Killer jailed for life for murder of Govan Gran
41-year old Andrew Wallace told the court he'll help Police find the rest of Julie Reilly's remains
Last updated 8th Feb 2019
A killer who murdered and chopped up the body of a vulnerable gran was jailed for at least 28 years. Andrew Wallace, 41, attacked 47-year-old Julie Reilly, at her home in Shieldhall Road, Glasgow, on February 6, last year.
Julie had allowed Wallace to stay with her after he split up from his girlfriend.
The Gran - who recently suffered a brain injury - had thought he could help look after her.
Instead, he viewed her someone he could “rip off”. Wallace meantime text a friend to ask “how to assassinate” someone.
A judge heard claims Wallace - convicted of killing a woman when he was just 15 - then brutally stabbed Julie after a row.
Wallace was jailed for life after he pled guilty to murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice by chopping up her body and disposing of it.
Only two of Julie's leg bones have been recovered - but the killer now claims he will help police to find the rest of Julie's remains.
Lady Rae told him he was guilty of an “evil and despicable act” by killing a “vulnerable” woman.
As she was sentencing, Wallace appeared to look fed up as he stood in the dock.
The judge said: “I am sorry if I am boring you, Mr Wallace.”
He casually replied: “Fire away - on you go.”
Lady Rae went on: “You have shown a complete lack of remorse and your demeanour in the dock is supportive of that view.
“I have read a victim impact statement and it is clear you have caused indescribable suffering to her family.
“You are a dangerous man who has a considerable propensity for violence.”
The judge said the minimum term would have been 30 years, but for the plea.
Members of Julie's family were in court to hear the grim details of the murder.
Jobless Wallace met Julie because she was a friend of his girlfriend.
When he split from her in December, 2017, he went to live with Julie as her lodger.
Prosecutor Richard Goddard QC said: “Julie Reilly commented to her mother: 'He could be my carer.'”
Julie had a brain injury which caused problems with her memory, slow reactions and affected her speech.
Wallace described her as being “easy to manipulate and rip off.”
The last recorded sighting of her was at Aldi in Paisley Road West, Glasgow, on February 6, last year at 5pm.
The following day between 1pm and 2pm Wallace told a friend: “I've murdered a c***,” minutes later he added: 'I need to get rid of a body.'
Wallace then sent texts claiming that Julie had moved to the Penilee area of Glasgow.
On February 9, last year, at around 11.20pm Wallace who was described as “hyper' arrived at his friend Edward Glover's flat in Hutton Drive, Glasgow.
Mr Goddard said: “The accused told Mr Glover he had been out in a friend's car, they had hit a deer and were intending to sell the meat.”
He came back to the friend's flat the following afternoon dragging a large brown suitcase, which appeared to be heavy.
The prosecutor said: “The accused claimed that it was meat from the deer. In fact the case contained part of the remains of Julie Reilly.
“At some point that night the accused left the flat with the suitcase.”
The next day February 11, 2018, Wallace went to the flat of another friend Simon Wallace icarrying a large blue suitcase.
He said he had been thrown out by Julie and the case contained his dirty washing.
In fact it contained more of Julie's remains.
Wallace was asked to leave by his friend and left taking the suitcase with him.
Meanwhile friends of Julie were becoming increasingly worried because she had not been in contact since April 6 - and this was out of character.
On April 15 she was reported missing.
When police examined Julie's flat as part of the missing person's investigation, they found traces of blood in the hall, kitchen, bedrooms and living room.
Julie's blood was also found in the bath and Wallace's fingerprint was found mixed with Julie's blood on the front of the washing machine.
Shoe prints in blood were also found which matched training shoes seized from Wallace.
On April 19 a member of the public found a bone with flesh attached in his front garden in Ardshiel Road. It was found to be Julie's right femur.
Days later another person contacted the police about an apparent burial site at Drumoyne Drive. A bone was found there which was identified as Julie's left femur..
Wallace was arrested. A search of Edward Hutton's flat uncovered a lock knife left there by Wallace. Her blood was found on the blade.
A post mortem examination of Julie's remains was carried out and the course of death was unascertained.
The legs were cut at the knee and hip joints with a sharp edged tool and were consistent with Julie having been dismembered after death.
Mr Goddard added: “The precise circumstances of the murder are not known. To date neither the suitcases seen in possession of the accused, nor the rest of the body of Julie Reilly has been recovered.”
Wallace has previous convictions for culpable homicide for which he received 10 years detention. Assault, possession of a stun gun and supplying heroin.
During a break in the hearing after the grim facts of the case were read out, Wallace smiled and clapped his hands as he was returned to the cells.
Lady Rae earlier asked Ian Duguid, defending, if Wallace was “prepared to co-operate” in helping police find the rest of Julie's remains.
The QC replied: “My instructions are once these proceedings are completed, he is prepared to entertain an approach by officers.”
The judge then said: “Do I take it he is refusing to co-operate prior to sentencing?”
Mr Duguid: “It would be wrong to suggest that.”
The lawyer said Wallace wanted to plead guilty to spare Julie's family the “trauma” of a trial.
But, Lady Rae replied: “The best way he could have saved them is by telling them where their family member's body is.”
Mr Duguid went on state Wallace had become homeless after splitting from his girlfriend.
Explaining Wallace's version of events, the QC added: “An argument had arisen. Julie Reilly had taken a knife and presented it at him.
“He took that from her and stabbed her in the chest. This is his explanation as to how she met her death.
“A shocking crime exacerbated by what followed it. Going to such lengths was either desperation or a reflection on his thought process.”
The grief-stricken family of murdered Julie Reilly appealed for her killer to tell them where her remains are.
Speaking outside the High Court in Glasgow Julie's sister Lynne Bryce said: "Please tell us where Julie is. Let my Mum have her wee girl back. Let her first grandchild have somewhere to go and grieve for Julie.
"On behalf of my mum, Julie’ s family and myself we would like to thank Mark Bell and his whole team for the significant work in solving this case and all who helped out with the police. Without them Andrew Wallace could still be walking the streets to kill again. So from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you all.
I hope that if he (Wallace) has a heart he could now please tell us where he put my sister and let her come home to be put to rest properly. Thank you."
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Bell added: "I welcome the sentence imposed on Andrew Wallace by the High Court which now protects our communities from him for a considerable period of time.
"I would appeal directly to Andrew Wallace to engage with me and tell me where Julie is. There is no value in withholding her whereabouts from me and indeed the courageous thing to do now is disclose where Julie is in order that I can take steps to recover her. I'm asking Andrew Wallace to reflect and speak to me.
"The most important thing now is to find Julie and provide her and her family with the dignity and respect that they deserve.A killer who murdered and chopped up the body of a vulnerable gran was jailed for at least 28 years. Andrew Wallace, 41, attacked 47-year-old Julie Reilly, at her home in Shieldhall Road, Glasgow, on February 6, last year.
Julie had allowed Wallace to stay with her after he split up from his girlfriend.
The Gran - who recently suffered a brain injury - had thought he could help look after her.
Instead, he viewed her someone he could “rip off”. Wallace meantime text a friend to ask “how to assassinate” someone.
A judge heard claims Wallace - convicted of killing a woman when he was just 15 - then brutally stabbed Julie after a row.
Wallace was jailed for life after he pled guilty to murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice by chopping up her body and disposing of it.
Only two of Julie's leg bones have been recovered - but the killer now claims he will help police to find the rest of Julie's remains.
Lady Rae told him he was guilty of an “evil and despicable act” by killing a “vulnerable” woman.
As she was sentencing, Wallace appeared to look fed up as he stood in the dock.
The judge said: “I am sorry if I am boring you, Mr Wallace.”
He casually replied: “Fire away - on you go.”
Lady Rae went on: “You have shown a complete lack of remorse and your demeanour in the dock is supportive of that view.
“I have read a victim impact statement and it is clear you have caused indescribable suffering to her family.
“You are a dangerous man who has a considerable propensity for violence.”
The judge said the minimum term would have been 30 years, but for the plea.
Members of Julie's family were in court to hear the grim details of the murder.
Jobless Wallace met Julie because she was a friend of his girlfriend.
When he split from her in December, 2017, he went to live with Julie as her lodger.
Prosecutor Richard Goddard QC said: “Julie Reilly commented to her mother: 'He could be my carer.'”
Julie had a brain injury which caused problems with her memory, slow reactions and affected her speech.
Wallace described her as being “easy to manipulate and rip off.”
The last recorded sighting of her was at Aldi in Paisley Road West, Glasgow, on February 6, last year at 5pm.
The following day between 1pm and 2pm Wallace told a friend: “I've murdered a c***,” minutes later he added: 'I need to get rid of a body.'
Wallace then sent texts claiming that Julie had moved to the Penilee area of Glasgow.
On February 9, last year, at around 11.20pm Wallace who was described as “hyper' arrived at his friend Edward Glover's flat in Hutton Drive, Glasgow.
Mr Goddard said: “The accused told Mr Glover he had been out in a friend's car, they had hit a deer and were intending to sell the meat.”
He came back to the friend's flat the following afternoon dragging a large brown suitcase, which appeared to be heavy.
The prosecutor said: “The accused claimed that it was meat from the deer. In fact the case contained part of the remains of Julie Reilly.
“At some point that night the accused left the flat with the suitcase.”
The next day February 11, 2018, Wallace went to the flat of another friend Simon Wallace icarrying a large blue suitcase.
He said he had been thrown out by Julie and the case contained his dirty washing.
In fact it contained more of Julie's remains.
Wallace was asked to leave by his friend and left taking the suitcase with him.
Meanwhile friends of Julie were becoming increasingly worried because she had not been in contact since April 6 - and this was out of character.
On April 15 she was reported missing.
When police examined Julie's flat as part of the missing person's investigation, they found traces of blood in the hall, kitchen, bedrooms and living room.
Julie's blood was also found in the bath and Wallace's fingerprint was found mixed with Julie's blood on the front of the washing machine.
Shoe prints in blood were also found which matched training shoes seized from Wallace.
On April 19 a member of the public found a bone with flesh attached in his front garden in Ardshiel Road. It was found to be Julie's right femur.
Days later another person contacted the police about an apparent burial site at Drumoyne Drive. A bone was found there which was identified as Julie's left femur..
Wallace was arrested. A search of Edward Hutton's flat uncovered a lock knife left there by Wallace. Her blood was found on the blade.
A post mortem examination of Julie's remains was carried out and the course of death was unascertained.
The legs were cut at the knee and hip joints with a sharp edged tool and were consistent with Julie having been dismembered after death.
Mr Goddard added: “The precise circumstances of the murder are not known. To date neither the suitcases seen in possession of the accused, nor the rest of the body of Julie Reilly has been recovered.”
Wallace has previous convictions for culpable homicide for which he received 10 years detention. Assault, possession of a stun gun and supplying heroin.
During a break in the hearing after the grim facts of the case were read out, Wallace smiled and clapped his hands as he was returned to the cells.
Lady Rae earlier asked Ian Duguid, defending, if Wallace was “prepared to co-operate” in helping police find the rest of Julie's remains.
The QC replied: “My instructions are once these proceedings are completed, he is prepared to entertain an approach by officers.”
The judge then said: “Do I take it he is refusing to co-operate prior to sentencing?”
Mr Duguid: “It would be wrong to suggest that.”
The lawyer said Wallace wanted to plead guilty to spare Julie's family the “trauma” of a trial.
But, Lady Rae replied: “The best way he could have saved them is by telling them where their family member's body is.”
Mr Duguid went on state Wallace had become homeless after splitting from his girlfriend.
Explaining Wallace's version of events, the QC added: “An argument had arisen. Julie Reilly had taken a knife and presented it at him.
“He took that from her and stabbed her in the chest. This is his explanation as to how she met her death.
“A shocking crime exacerbated by what followed it. Going to such lengths was either desperation or a reflection on his thought process.”
The grief-stricken family of murdered Julie Reilly appealed for her killer to tell them where her remains are.
Speaking outside the High Court in Glasgow Julie's sister Lynne Bryce said: "Please tell us where Julie is. Let my Mum have her wee girl back. Let her first grandchild have somewhere to go and grieve for Julie.
"On behalf of my mum, Julie’ s family and myself we would like to thank Mark Bell and his whole team for the significant work in solving this case and all who helped out with the police. Without them Andrew Wallace could still be walking the streets to kill again. So from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you all.
''I hope that if he (Wallace) has a heart he could now please tell us where he put my sister and let her come home to be put to rest properly. Thank you."
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Bell added: "I welcome the sentence imposed on Andrew Wallace by the High Court which now protects our communities from him for a considerable period of time.
"I would appeal directly to Andrew Wallace to engage with me and tell me where Julie is. There is no value in withholding her whereabouts from me and indeed the courageous thing to do now is disclose where Julie is in order that I can take steps to recover her. I'm asking Andrew Wallace to reflect and speak to me.
"The most important thing now is to find Julie and provide her and her family with the dignity and respect that they deserve.''