Serial domestic abuser who murdered partner jailed for at least 22 years

A convicted domestic abuser has been jailed for at least 22 years for the brutal murder of his partner.

33 year old Mark Keel killed Maxine Clark at her home in Riddrie in Glasgow, leaving her with more than 50 injuries.

The 36 year-old mum had already been abused by him during their relationship, with a neighbour seeing her with a black eye, and during the trial it emerged he already had abuse convictions in connection with former partners.

Keel was today jailed for life having earlier pleaded guilty to a murder at the High Court in Glasgow.

Sentencing, Lord Mulholland went through the catalogue of horrific injuries he inflicted on Maxine including brain damage, significant bruising, fractures and wounds.

Lord Mulholland told him: "What you did was cowardly, evil and the actions of a brute."

He warned Keel - who showed no emotion - that he may never been freed.

Prior to the relationship with Maxine, the court was earlier told how Keel had previously been made the subject of strict non-harassment orders banning him from approaching or contacting three former partners.

This also included him being jailed in June 2022 for domestic violence.

In 2023, he was also told to attend the Caledonian System - a project for men guilty of such abuse - with Keel being deemed "a high risk offender".

But, his attendance was described as "sporadic".

He also went on to flout a court-imposed community payback order.

In January 2024, Keel was instead put on 12-months supervision as well as an 18-week curfew.

At the time of the killing, Keel and mum-of-four Maxine had been in a relationship for 18 months.

He had recently moved into her home in Riddrie.

Maxine had once been described as "healthy, happy and outgoing".

However, she had told others of physical violence being inflicted on her by Keel.

Maxine had been seen with black eyes as well an injury to her jaw. She also had "grab marks" around her neck.

Maxine admitted to a neighbour Keel had punched her.

However, she was scared to report him in fear of repercussions.

Prosecutor David Dickson said: "Family and friends warned her they felt Keel posed a threat to her."

In the hours before the murder, Keel called his own mum asking to get picked up claiming he was "leaving" Maxine.

They went to his father's home in the southside of Glasgow before he later got a taxi back to Maxine's house.

He was described as "drunk". Maxine was in bed when he got there.

Mr Dickson said it was at the property the fatal attack then occurred.

A child also staying at the house got up the next morning to find Maxine still in the bed with Keel wrapped in a blanket sitting beside her.

Mr Dickson: "She appeared to have fresh injuries to her face and her breathing was described as laboured."

Maxine was rolled onto her side. The child left to play with friends, but returned every hour to see how she was.

Advocate depute Mr Dickson told the court: "Keel said he thought she was having an allergic reaction and that there was no need to call an ambulance."

At around 6pm, G4S security staff arrived to fit an electronic tag on Keel due to the curfew imposed on him weeks earlier.

But, he steered them away claiming he had just woken up.

Keel instead went on to dial 999 claiming Maxine's tongue was swollen and that he had not seen her awake that day.

Mercy crews arrived to find her body on the bed, covered in a blanket.

Mr Dickson said Maxine had 51 separate injuries likely caused by punches, kicks and being stamped upon.

The imprint of the soles Keel's shoes were found on her leg such was the force.

Maxine was the only child of her grieving parents Joseph and Mary Clark.

The court heard that Keel had been a promising footballer in his teens before getting in with the "wrong crowd".

Around 2014, he then suffered the death of his baby son from illness.

Brian McConnachie KC, defending, said: "It appears, from this point onwards, there was a pattern of offending and offending of a particular nature."

The advocate added the killing of Maxine occurred on the anniversary of the child's passing.

Mr McConnachie stated that was not put forward as an "excuse" for what then happened, but he said: "Undoubtedly, due to the timing of the event, Mark Keel's mood was a particularly bad one on that day."

Keel was now "deeply ashamed and remorseful" for what he did.

Lord Mulholland cut the minimum jail-term from 24 years due to the guilty plea.

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