Widow blasts ‘early release candidate’ claim from judge

THE widow of a man who was stabbed to death during a row over a chocolate bar today hit out at a judge for describing the woman who sparked the fight as an “obvious candidate for early release” from prison.

Chanelle Barrett has lost her appeal against a nine-year sentence she received following the murder of William McPhee in Gilmerton last January.

But after throwing out her bid for a reduced jail term, Lord Carloway said that the court was “impressed” with Barrett’s efforts at rehabilitation, which include training to become a hairdresser while behind bars.

Mr McPhee’s widow, Roseanne, 40, told the News that it was “ridiculous” that the appeal court judge considered Barrett such a likely prospect for early release.

Lawyers for Barrett, who was 19 at the time of the murder, contended that their client’s “troubled background” caused by her father’s heroin addiction should have been taken into account during sentencing.