Double murderer told he might never be freed after Coatbridge killings

Peter Duffy was ordered to serve at least 30 years in jail on Friday before he can be considered for release following the murders of Emma Baillie, 26 and John Paul Duffy, 51 in Coatbridge in 2022.

A judge told him: "Depending on the question of risk, you may never be released."

Lord Scott said the 30 year jail term was the minimum period Duffy, 48 must serve before he could be considered by the Parole Board.

The judge told Duffy: "Both your victims were vulnerable and were known by you to be vulnerable."

"The murders occurred within a short time of each other, almost exactly two years ago. You stabbed both of your victims and Emma Baillie was also throttled."

Lord Scott pointed out that she was due to appear as a witness against Duffy in an assault case at Airdrie Sheriff Court on March 17 2022 but could not attend because he murdered her.

The judge said: "Even after you murdered them your victims were shown no respect and afforded no dignity." Instead Duffy left them to decompose.

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Duffy, who was previously jailed for serious assault, was subject to three bail orders at the time he committed the killings.

The court heard that a report prepared on him assessed him as posing the maximum risk of further offending.

Duffy strangled and repeatedly struck his partner Emma with a knife on an occasion between March 4 and April 12 in 2022 at his home in the Lanarkshire town's Calder Street.

He repeatedly stabbed his brother at his home with a knife and hid the body under rubbish at a flat at High Coats between March 29 and April 10 in 2022.

The murderer also killed his brother's cat, Sher Khan, with an axe during the bloodletting.

Duffy was found guilty of committing the murders of his brother and his partner following a trial earlier this year.

Duffy's earlier trial at the High Court in Glasgow heard that police attended at John Paul's flat to carry out a welfare check on him on April 10 after concern was voiced.

Officers forced entry to the property after there was no answer, despite noise being heard from within. They discovered the dead cat in a pool of blood in the hallway of the flat which was in a "state of disarray".

Duffy was found on a couch in a sleeping bag in the living room. They were able to rouse him and he claimed his brother was asleep in a bedroom.

Another couch in the living room was at first thought to be just piled up with litter but officer's discovered the older brother's body hidden under the rubbish.

PC Emma Gibney said: "He looked as if he had been there for a period of time due to the state of decomposition."

Duffy was said to have stated: "Treat me like an animal, I will treat you like an animal." He appeared to be drifting in and out of consciousness. Duffy had two bleeding wounds to the side of his neck which he claimed he had inflicted. Nurse Jordan Thompson said: "He told me he thought the police would be at the door as his brother was there, but unfortunately something happened to him."

"He said he wasn't sure who did it and thought he would get the blame and that's why he had to do the injuries to himself."

Duffy claimed that he had found his brother's body a couple of days before police arrived and was shocked, but stayed in case the person who had done it to his brother came back, she said.

"He didn't seem upset or fussed - it was as if it was just a normal thing he was chatting about," said the nurse.

Detective Constable Nicola Batton told the court that police had conducted a search at Duffy's home on April 12 and found Ms Baillie's body covered in clothing at the bottom of a couch in the living room.

The court heard the body was decomposing and the officer said there was a "smell I would never forget" when they went into the address.

Jurors at the trial heard that Ms Baillie did not appear as a witness at a domestic abuse trial against Duffy the previous month.

While in prison Duffy spoke to another inmate Brian Morrision and said "he killed Emma after an argument got violent, that he killed her in his house, that he stabbed her and squeezed her neck in".

The court heard that Duffy had pretended to be Emma's stepfather in March to claim pounds 198 of benefits on her behalf.

Duffy claimed that she was "gone a good few days - three to five days" when he found her in the living room and alleged that he covered her "out of respect".

Duffy also maintained that he became involved in a confrontation with his brother which turned violent and claimed he stabbed him on the shoulder and torso to ward him off and make good his escape while acting in self defence Defence counsel George Gebbie said that Duffy has had difficulties in his life and described his childhood as "hell".