Barry Wallace killer fails in another human rights bid
A notorious murderer has failed in a human rights challenge over prison disciplinary proceedings after he twice lost privileges in jail.
William Beggs, was charged with being disrespectful and threatening conduct at Edinburgh's Saughton prison.
Beggs (52) did not have legal representation for hearings considering the alleged breaches of jail discipline and sought to have the findings set aside in a judicial review.
But a judge today (tues) rejected a series of challenges put forward on his behalf over procedure, legal representation and unfairness.
The Scottish Government contested the action and told Lady Wolffe that Beggs "was familiar and deft at the process of internal complaints".
The judge said: "The two charges relate to allegations of minor breaches of discipline."
"One alleges disrespect and the other threatening conduct. In my view, these are straightforward concepts and do not raise complex issues of law. They do require explication by legally qualified persons," she said.
Beggs was deprived of a day's wages and five days recreation for the disrespect charge in 2014 and lost access to his money, wages and recreation for a week on the threatening conduct case.
Counsel for Beggs, David Leighton, earlier told the Court of Session in Edinburgh that the inmate was a life prisoner and said: "If fairness requires legal representation, an opportunity for legal representation should be provided."
Beggs was jailed for life in 2001 after murdering 18-year-old Barry Wallace and dismembering his body at a house in Doon Place, Kilmarnock, in Ayrshire, December 1999. He disposed of body parts of the teenage victim in Loch Lomond and in the sea off the Ayrshire coast.
He was ordered to serve a minimum term of 20 years for the crime and according to the judicial review action that period is due to expire in 2019.