Aberdeen man finally convicted of 1978 ex-wife murder after 45 years

ABERDEEN MAN FINALLY CONVICTED OF 1978 EX-WIFE MURDER AFTER 45 YEARS

A man who evaded justice for more than 40 years after murdering his ex-wife believed he was "too clever" to be caught, according to a senior detective involved in the case.

Christopher Harrisson killed 32-year-old Brenda Page in Aberdeen in 1978, shortly after their divorce.

Detective Inspector James Callander explained that Harrisson thought he had successfully concealed himself but ultimately implicated himself during an interview, leading to his eventual conviction.

Harrisson, a retired research scientist, was apprehended in 2020 after forensic evidence, including DNA matching her former husband’s profile, linked him to the crime scene.

The DNA evidence was scientifically sound, with experts stating it was 590 million times more likely to belong to him than any other male.

Harrisson maintained his innocence when questioned, but the evidence against him proved overwhelming.

He was tried at the High Court in Aberdeen in March 2023, after police reinvestigated the case in 2015 following advances in forensic DNA analysis.

During the trial, Harrisson was found guilty of murder after a ten-day proceedings and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years before parole eligibility.

The case highlighted how societal attitudes and understanding of domestic abuse and coercive control have evolved, helping secure justice that had previously eluded the victim’s family for decades.

Brenda Page, a genetics expert, had expressed fear of her ex-husband, and her sister Rita Ling and nephew Chris Ling paid tribute to her memory, reflecting on the long road to justice.

The case received extensive media coverage, and a BBC documentary examined the process from Harrisson’s arrest to his conviction, emphasizing how forensic advances and societal changes contributed to this long-delayed justice.