William Taylor jailed for life for Catrina Rae murder
A man has been jailed for life for murdering his partner - months after he was bailed on a charge of threatening her with a knife.
William Taylor, 33, choked 32-year-old Catrina Rae to death at his flat in Barmulloch, Glasgow, in July last year.
He killed her after prosecutors did not oppose bail or insist he stay away from Ms Rae over the earlier threat.
At the High Court in Glasgow, Taylor was jailed for a minimum of 17 years after being convicted of murder.
The court heard how Taylor had been remanded in custody after being charged with threatening Ms Rae with a knife after she had the TV up too loud while he was in bed on Hogmanay 2011.
The case was due to stand trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 27 April last year, but did not go ahead due to witness problems.
Taylor's lawyer then asked for him to freed from jail pending any future hearing.
Prosecutors did not oppose bail and did not move for any condition that he stay away from Ms Rae.
The decision was taken despite Taylor having served a previous jail-term for an assault with a knife in 2007.
After receiving bail, he was soon in contact again with Ms Rae, but problems quickly arose once more between the pair.
On 8 July last year - the night of the murder - the couple had a row at Taylor's flat about a key.
Taylor attacked Ms Rae with a cutting-tool which he called "snips", badly injuring her hand.
He gave evidence during the trial and claimed he left his girlfriend of 16 years in the hall before he heard a "gurgling" sound.
He told the jury that Ms Rae was "holding something at her neck" before her face turned blue and her tongue swelled up.
Taylor claimed he went to get help for Ms Rae, who died in the flat.
He also insisted it was "lies" that his girlfriend lived in "utter terror" of him.
He added: "I loved her. I am gutted she is dead. She was my partner."
Prosecutor Ashley Edwards later called Taylor "a bully and a brute" adding: "You controlled what she did in the house"
The jury found Taylor guilty of murder including the allegation that he compressed Ms Rae's neck.
The 32-year-old victim, who was described as "caring and bubbly" by friends, acted as a carer for Taylor who was unemployed and claimed to have health problems.
Jailing him for life, judge Lord Armstrong said the events were "tragic" in what was a "sad case".
The judge added:"To those who knew her, Catrina Rae was a bubbly, friendly and happy person, who was well liked.
"She was not only your partner, but your carer. There are no reasons which could possibly justify taking a life as you did."