Key Takeaways
- Leon Headey, 23, has been jailed for life for murdering Ross MacGillivray in Inverness, Scotland, on November 11, 2023.
- Headey and another man, Craig Hayden, pleaded guilty to the murder and were sentenced to life in prison with minimum terms of 17 years and seven months and 17 years and two months, respectively.
- Headey had a history of violent attacks, including stabbing another man in Liverpool just two months before the murder, and admitting to violently attacking another man in Alness, Scotland, on October 25, 2023.
- Samantha MacGillivray, the estranged wife of the victim, was jailed for one year and nine months for attempting to defeat the ends of justice by helping Headey and Hayden cover their tracks.
Introduction to the Case
Leon Headey, a 23-year-old man from north Liverpool, has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in the murder of Ross MacGillivray, a 36-year-old man from Inverness, Scotland. The murder took place on November 11, 2023, and was the culmination of a series of violent attacks committed by Headey over a three-month period. Headey’s violent streak began to unravel just two months before the murder, when he was caught on CCTV chasing another man down West Derby Road in Tuebrook, Liverpool, and stabbing him repeatedly with a large kitchen knife.
The Attack in Liverpool
The attack in Liverpool took place in broad daylight on the morning of September 7, 2023. Headey was seen arguing with the victim and another man before suddenly attacking the victim with a knife. The victim ran and fell into the road, then jumped into a passing car, which was stopped at the traffic lights. Despite the victim’s reluctance to cooperate with the police, witnesses described the attack as unprovoked and aggressive. The victim sustained one stab wound to his upper chest and two stab wounds to his back and was bleeding profusely. Headey pleaded guilty to affray and possession of a bladed article in a public place in relation to the incident and was sentenced to 22 months in prison.
The Murder of Ross MacGillivray
Just two months after the attack in Liverpool, Headey was involved in the murder of Ross MacGillivray in Inverness, Scotland. Headey and another man, Craig Hayden, pleaded guilty to the murder at the High Court in Glasgow. The court heard that MacGillivray was restrained, punched, kicked, and stamped on by the pair, causing "unsurvivable" injuries. After the assault, Headey and Hayden went with MacGillivray’s estranged wife, Samantha MacGillivray, to the nearby Caledonian Canal and disposed of a number of items in an attempt to cover their tracks. Headey and Hayden were sentenced to life in prison with minimum terms of 17 years and seven months and 17 years and two months, respectively.
The Investigation and Sentencing
The investigation into the murder of Ross MacGillivray was led by Detective Inspector Richard Baird of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team. The team identified Headey and Hayden as the perpetrators of the crime and arrested them in Aberdeen. Samantha MacGillivray was also identified as having attempted to help the two men cover their tracks by facilitating the disposal of incriminating evidence and providing deliberate false statements. She was jailed for one year and nine months for attempting to defeat the ends of justice. The sentencing of Headey and Hayden reflects the seriousness of the crime and the commitment of Police Scotland to identifying and bringing to justice anyone involved in acts of violence.
Conclusion
The case of Leon Headey and the murder of Ross MacGillivray highlights the dangers of violent behavior and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. Headey’s history of violent attacks, including the stabbing in Liverpool and the murder in Inverness, demonstrates a clear pattern of behavior that poses a significant threat to public safety. The sentencing of Headey and Hayden to life in prison reflects the severity of the crime and the need to protect the public from individuals who engage in such violent behavior. The case also underscores the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the need for witnesses to come forward to help bring perpetrators to justice.
