A callous Fife man who strangled his sister to death in her own home will have to serve at least 17 years behind bars before even being considered for release.
Charles Gordon, 52, has been sentenced to life imprisonment at the High Court in Glasgow for the murder of Elizabeth Bowe at a flat in Bobby Jones Place, St Andrews, on September 17 last year.
Gordon was convicted following a trial earlier this year of deliberately killing Ms Bowe by placing his hands around her neck and compressing it, putting a dressing gown around her neck and placing a plastic bag over her head.
The jury previously heard how Gordon himself phoned 999 to tell police he thought he had killed his sister, and when officers arrived they found him casually smoking a cigarette while his sibling – who was naked from the waist down – lay unresponsive at his feet.
He even told a police officer trying to save his sister’s life: “She’s already dead, you might as well give up.”
Ms Bowe was rushed to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee but died on September 20.
Sentencing Gordon this morning, judge John Morris told him not to expect to be automatically freed after the 17-year minimum term.
After his sentence was passed there was a brief angry verbal altercation between Gordon and family members in court, in which Gordon shouted: “I’ll see you when I get out.”
The family made no comment when leaving court.
Detective Chief Inspector Rory Hamilton, who led the investigation, said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Elizabeth at this difficult time.
“Charles Gordon carried out an horrific attack and we note the sentence handed down today.”
