Killer jailed over murder of girl, 14, dies in hospital almost 30 years later

Killer jailed over murder of girl, 14, dies in hospital almost 30 years later Donna Marie Brand was serving a life sentence for the 1996 murder of Caroline Glachan in West Dunbartonshire. A woman jailed for her role in the murder of a 14-year-old girl in West Dunbartonshire almost 30 years ago has died in hospital. Donna Marie Brand, 47, was serving a life sentence at HMP & YOI Stirling after being convicted of murdering Caroline Glachan in 1996. The Scottish Prison Service confirmed Brand died in hospital on Wednesday. She had been ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years behind bars after being sentenced in 2024. Brand, Robert O’Brien and Andrew Kelly were convicted of Caroline’s murder almost three decades after she was killed on August 25. Caroline was O’Brien’s girlfriend at the time. The attack happened at a bridge near the towpath beside the River Leven, between Renton and Bonhill, where Caroline was beaten and had projectiles thrown at her, causing blunt force injuries to her head and body. Caroline was pushed or fell into undergrowth before her body was found in the river at Place of Bonhill, Renton, later that day – her mother’s 40th birthday. Brand was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years at the High Court in Glasgow. O’Brien and Kelly were also given life sentences, with O’Brien ordered to serve at least 22 years and Kelly a minimum of 18 years. Speaking outside court, Caroline’s mother Margaret McKeich said she was “pleased” at the sentence. On the day of their conviction, she said: “It was a good sentence and it was actually more than I was expecting, I’m quite pleased, now it’s like a weight lifted off my shoulders and as I’ve said before it’s not closure, it’s justice, we don’t get closure, it’s a void that will not ever be filled, so you don’t get closure. “I’m pleased the way it went today.” She said that she and Caroline’s father, who was also at court, are both “serving a sentence as well, only ours doesn’t come to an end, we don’t get parole”. Judge Lord Braid previously said Brand had been convicted of a “brutal” murder, which was witnessed by two young children. During the trial, forensic pathologist Dr Marjorie Turner told the court the 14-year-old was still alive when she went into the water and the ultimate cause of death was drowning. Lord Braid said while Brand did not take part in the assault itself, she shared in responsibility for the crime because she left Caroline face down in the river while she was still alive and was part of a plan of “murderous violence”. On Thursday, an SPS spokesperson said: “Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual. “Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised, and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. “Fatal accident inquiries are held in due course.”