A CONVICTED sex offender who raped and murdered a vulnerable pensioner in her sheltered housing home has been jailed for at least 21 years.
Kevin Rooney attacked mother-of-five Rosina Sutherland, 74, after ransacking her property in the Longstone area of Edinburgh, on October 29 last year.
Rooney, 26, fled the scene with almost £400, the keys to the property and the victim’s walking stick.
He then went to a nearby pub where he used the cash to buy drinks for himself and strangers in the bar.
The killer later told police: “I’ve murdered someone. If you gie us a fag I’ll show you the body.”
Rooney, who was on bail at the time, pleaded guilty to robbery, rape and murder earlier this week after two days of a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen.
Passing sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lady Dorrian jailed Rooney for life, as required by law in murder cases.
She ordered him to spend a minimum of 21 years and four months behind bars.
The court heard that, uninvited, Rooney entered Mrs Sutherland’s house where she lived alone.
He ransacked her house, throwing treasured possessions such as family photographs on the floor.
He also pulled the telephone cord apart.
Rooney then raped her, hit her and repeatedly struck her and compressed her throat, restricting her breathing.
Detective Superintendent Alan Crawford, of Lothian and Borders Police, said: “This was a shocking and depraved crime and my thoughts at this time are with Rosina Sutherland’s family, who have been put through a harrowing ordeal as a result of Kevin Rooney’s actions.”