We waited three decades for justice after Caroline’s murder – gang thug killer’s death is too good for that ‘evil b****’

KILLER Donna Brand was last night branded “one evil bitch” by the best pal of schoolgirl murder victim Caroline Glachan following her death in custody at 47. Brand died in hospital on Wednesday after being taken there from HMP Stirling where she had just served just two and a half years of a life sentence. 14-year-old Caroline Glachan was brutally beaten to death in 1996 Credit: PA Robert O’Brien, Donna Brand and Andrew Kelly were found guilty of murder after a trial in Glasgow last December Credit: PA She was part of a gang who brutally beat 14-year-old Caroline, hit her with rocks and left her to die in the River Leven at Renton, Dunbartonshire, in 1996. The wicked thug carried out the vile killing alongside Robert O’Brien and Andrew Kelly. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! They evaded justice for 27 years before finally being convicted in 2023, causing anguish for Caroline’s mum Margaret McKeich, 70, and other loved ones. Caroline’s pal Joanne Menzies, 47, said: “She’s one evil bitch – death is too good for her. “She, along with the others brutally murdered a 14-year-old girl then lied for 28 years, putting Margaret, myself, family and friends through nearly three decades of pain and heartache.” It’s understood Brand had been in poor health for some time. Her sentencing in 2024 was delayed because she was unwell. Joanne Menzies said “death is too good for [Brand]”, stressing the beast had put Caroline’s friends and family through “nearly three decades of pain and heartache” Credit: Les Gallagher Caroline’s distraught mum Margaret called the beast a “coward” for refusing to attend her sentencing in person Credit: PA She then watched by videolink from prison as she was caged for a minimum of 17 years, with Caroline’s mum Margaret branding her a “coward”. The 2023 trial jury was told that Caroline, from Bonhill, Dunbartonshire, had been “infatuated” with O’Brien. Most read in The Sun On the night of her murder in August 1996, she had arranged to meet him at a bridge on the nearby River Leven at around midnight. She was killed in what prosecutors described as a “horrific and violent attack”, suffering at least ten blows to the head and extensive skull fractures. The 14-year-old was hit with bricks and left to drown Credit: PA Brand was imprisoned in HMP and YOI Stirling before her death Credit: Andrew Barr She was also hit with bricks during the savage assault. No exact motive was revealed but jealous drug addict O’Brien was also in a relationship with Brand at the time. The jury heard Caroline may have been alive but was most likely unconscious when she entered the water. Her body was found face-down in the river on August 25, 1996, by a passer-by. Despite a massive investigation – and many locals being aware of who the main suspects were – there was no breakthrough until the case was re-examined by Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team in 2019. Officers re-interviewed residents of a street in Renton where O’Brien, Kelly and Brand had claimed they spent the night of the murder. A neighbour said she had seen four people – including Kelly and his girlfriend, the late Sarah Jane O’Neill – leaving the flat before midnight. Kelly and Ms O’Neill had been babysitting two boys, and had been joined by O’Brien and Brand. Caroline’s devastated parents spent years begging for answers Credit: Scottish Sun Caroline’s mother attended every day of Brand’s trial for murder Credit: Scottish Sun They took four-year old Archie Wilson and his baby brother Jamie with them when they went out. When they returned more than an hour later, the neighbour heard a commotion and an argument. This enabled officers to corroborate an account given by Archie the day after Caroline was attacked. He had told his mother Betty that he had been at the river and had seen fighting and Caroline falling into the water. Archie told his mum her had seen fighting at the river Credit: Scottish Sun Despite massive, ongoing investigations into the murder, there was no breakthrough until the case was re-examined by Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team in 2019. Credit: Scottish Sun His evidence proved to be the key to finally convicting the heartless trio. We previously told how O’Brien and Brand went on to have a child. He has also served several jail sentences since the killing, including ten years for attempted murder after firing a crossbow at a man in 2007. O’Brien was jailed for 22 years and Kelly for 18 years. Kelly was jailed for 18 years in jail Credit: Scottish Sun Brand was sentenced to serve at least 17 years in jail Credit: PA Kelly and Brand appealed their convictions last year, with Brand also appealing her sentence, but these were refused. Appeal judge Lord Carloway said: “It is not possible to categorise the punishment part as excessive for what was an evil concerted crime.” A Scottish Prison Service 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.”