A four-year-old boy’s testimony was key in solving the 1996 murder of Caroline Glachan
Dumbartonshire: Caroline Glachan was a schoolgirl who never returned home. Her body was found face down in a river. This tragic case remained unsolved for nearly 30 years, becoming one of Scotland’s most haunting cold cases.
After almost three decades, Robert O’Brien, Andrew Kelly, and Donna Marie Brand were accused of her murder. The trial took place in the Scottish High Court in Glasgow, with a documentary titled “Murder Trial: Girl in the River” capturing the proceedings.
Caroline was just 14 when she was killed on August 25, 1996. Her body was discovered in the River Leven. The original investigation faced challenges, and it wasn’t until 2019 that the case was reopened. Caroline’s mother, Margaret McKeich, fought tirelessly for justice.
Margaret expressed her hope for justice, saying, “Hope is the only thing that I have got.” She attended the trial, determined to seek answers about her daughter’s death. The jury learned that O’Brien was in a relationship with Caroline at the time.
On the night Caroline went missing, Margaret and her husband were out celebrating her birthday. They allowed Caroline to stay with a friend. When they returned home, only the friend was there, and she said Caroline had gone out.
Margaret called friends and then the police. The next day, she received the heartbreaking news that Caroline’s body had been found. The trial revealed that O’Brien and his friends were babysitting a four-year-old boy named Archie that night.
Witnesses testified that Brand threatened Caroline, saying she would beat her up. The prosecution argued that O’Brien and his friends lured Caroline to her death while babysitting. The defense claimed they never left the house.
Archie’s testimony became crucial. He told police he saw O’Brien hit Caroline with a metal pole and push her into the water. His chilling account was shown to the jury in a video interview.
Despite the defense questioning Archie’s reliability, a neighbor testified that she saw the accused leaving the house that night. O’Brien eventually took the stand, admitting to a relationship with Caroline but denying any involvement in her death.
In December 2023, O’Brien, Brand, and Kelly were convicted of Caroline’s murder. They received life sentences, with O’Brien serving at least 22 years. The judge noted O’Brien’s extreme violence and the roles of the others in the crime.
Outside the court, Margaret expressed relief that justice was finally served, saying, “This is a day we never thought we would see.” The documentary “Murder Trial: Girl in the River” is available on BBC iPlayer.
