Murder of Esther Brown

On 28 May 2021, Scottish pensioner Esther Brown was raped and murdered at her flat in Woodlands, Glasgow.^[1][2]

Murder of Esther Brown

West Princes Street, Woodlands, Glasgow; the location of the murder.
Date	29 May 2021
Location	Woodlands, Glasgow
Coordinates	55°52′17″N 4°16′39″W / 55.8715°N 4.2774°W / 55.8715; -4.2774
Type	Murder, Rape
Suspects	Jason Graham
Charges	Murder, Rape
Trial	Glasgow High Court, 15 October 2021
Verdict	Guilty
Sentence	19 years

Jason Graham (also known as Jason Evans^[3]), a registered sex offender, who was unknown to her, was found guilty of her rape and murder on 12 November 2021, and sentenced to 19 years in jail.

Perpetrator

Jason Graham did not know Brown, and was a registered sex offender.^[4] He was aged 30 at the time he murdered and raped Brown.^[4] Graham legally changed his name to Jason Evans shortly before the attack.^[3]

Murder and trial

Brown was kicked, punched and stamped on by Graham on 28 May 2021.^[4]

She was reported missing the same day^[5] and found dead on 1 June at her flat in Glasgow's Woodlands on West Princes Street.^[6]

On 7 June an arrest was made,^[7] Graham was charged, suspected of brutally killing the elderly woman in her own home.^[8] After killing her, he allegedly used Brown's bankcard to purchase cigarettes.^[9]

On 15 October 2021, Jason Graham pleaded guilty to the murder at the Justiciary Buildings in Glasgow^[10][11] On 17 November, he was found guilty to the murder and was sentenced to 19 years.^[4]

Aftermath

A 2022 memorial is planned for Brown, in recognition of her community activism.^[12][13][14]

In March 2022, MSP Pauline McNeill called for changes to Clare's Law to account for perpetrators of crimes who change their names, specifically citing Graham's actions prior to the murder.^[3] The Scottish Conservatives called for greater transparency around parole decisions.^[15]

An inquiry into Brown's rape and murder investigated the circumstances that lead up to the event, including the release of the perpetrator from imprisonment in 2018. The inquiry described Brown's assault and killing as a spontaneous and opportunistic event that could not be prevented.^[16]

References

1. Webster, Laura (15 October 2021). "Man admits raping and murdering Scots pensioner Esther Brown". The National. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
2. "Jason Graham: Man jailed for life after raping and murdering pensioner Esther Brown in her own home". Sky News. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
3. Learmonth, Andrew (23 March 2022). "Police should directly inform women if partner has history of abuse, says MSP". The Herald Scotland. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
4. "Esther Brown: Man jailed for 19 years for rape and murder of pensioner". BBC News. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
5. Thomson, Ellen (4 June 2021). "NEWS: Man arrested over death of Esther Brown". Glasgow West End. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
6. Hay, Katharine (15 October 2021). "Man admits raping and murdering pensioner Esther Brown in Glasgow". Evening Standard. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
7. "Esther Brown: Man charged with rape and murder of Glasgow woman". BBC News. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
8. Gordon, Connor (15 October 2021). "Man admits raping and murdering pensioner". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
9. "Man admits rape and murder of Glasgow pensioner". BBC News. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
10. Lennon, Holly (15 October 2021). "Police pay tribute to family of Esther Brown after man pleads guilty to murder". GlasgowLive. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
11. "Police Scotland has welcomed the conviction of 30-year-old Jason Graham for the murder of Esther Brown. - Police Scotland". www.scotland.police.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
12. Easton, Kaitlin (23 July 2021). "Touching memorial planned to honour murdered Glasgow pensioner Esther Brown". Daily Record. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
13. "Esther Brown". Woodlands Community. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
14. Lennon, Holly (7 May 2022). "Esther Brown to be remembered a year on from tragic murder with memorial stone". GlasgowLive. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
15. Scott, Kevin (17 November 2021). "'What went wrong?' Questions over the release of Esther Brown's killer". STV News. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
16. "'Anger' over review of pensioner Esther Brown's murder". BBC News. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.