The couple found guilty of murdering schoolgirl Caroline Glachan have appealed

A man and a woman sentenced for A date has been set for an appeal in the Caroline Glachan murder case almost 30 years ago.

The case of Andrew Kelly (44) and Donna Marie Brand (also 44) will be heard by the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh on January 15, 2025.

They are both appealing against their convictions for the murder of teenager Caroline in Renton, West Dunbartonshire, in August 1996.

Their legal teams believe the duo, who along with co-defendant Robert O’Brien were jailed for life, were wrongly convicted of murdering Caroline, who was 14 at the time of her death.

An official of the Court of Criminal Appeal confirmed that the judge had decided that the January 2025 hearing would take place as part of last month’s procedural hearing.

All three were convicted of murder following a two-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow in January. Brand was told she would have to serve at least 17 years in custody before she would be eligible for parole.

Kelly was ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years, while O’Brien was told he would have to serve a minimum of 22 years.

Earlier this year, Judge Lord Braid said O’Brien – who was 18 at the time and in a relationship with Caroline – was the “primary perpetrator” but Brand and Kelly were responsible “in part and in part”.

He described the killing as “brutal, depraved and, above all, wicked.”

In Scottish law, “art and part” refers to “aiding and abetting” any crime.

It covers any person who “aids, abets, advises, induces or incites any other person to commit an offence” under the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.

Sentencing O’Brien, Lord Braid said: ‘There is no evidence that you took part in the robbery itself, but nevertheless the jury must have found that you planned to inflict murderous violence on Caroline.

“It was inflicted by Mr. O’Brien and you must bear the consequences.

“The jury had to accept that you threatened her because you were angry that she was seeing Mr O’Brien when you were in a relationship at the time.

– You went there knowing that violence would be used against her.

Lord Braid added: “While I acknowledge that you played no active role in the robbery, the fact remains that you are equally responsible for leaving Caroline face down on the river while she was still alive.

“Your guilt is mitigated by your age at the time, but the harm caused is not.”

Caroline’s body was discovered on August 25, 1996, on the banks of the River Leven.

During the trial, the jury heard that she was “infatuated” with O’Brien.

On the night of her murder, they arranged to meet at a bridge over the River Leven around midnight.

She later died in what prosecutors described as a “horrific and brutal attack.”

Caroline suffered at least ten blows to the head and massive skull fractures. Magistrates were told she may have been alive but was unconscious when she entered the water.

A few hours later, her body was found by a passerby.

A murder investigation was launched but there was no breakthrough until the case was reviewed by Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team in 2019. They gathered enough evidence to arrest all three and put them on trial.

The appeals court official also confirmed that Brand was appealing the minimum period she will have to serve before she is eligible for parole.