A man has pleaded guilty to murdering 25-year-old Broughty Ferry woman Katy Rourke today after stabbing her three times when she refused sex.
The accused, Gary Stevenson, 27, of Glasgow kept his head bowed for the duration of the hearing at the city’s High Court where it was heard how his frustration had led to him punching and then stabbing the former Grove Academy pupil.
The pair had both been drinking at the flat they shared in Minto Street, Glasgow, on the evening of December 29.
After several hours of chatting with her flatmate, Katy’s last communication with pals on social media was at 1.30am.
At some point in the early hours of December 30 Stevenson and Katy had sex.
Afterwards, Katy stayed in bed but Stevenson continued to down alcohol and again went through to Katy’s room, but the P&O Ferries worker this time refused to have sex.
Advocate Depute Bruce Erroch told the court that there was a struggle between the two and Stevenson lashed out by punching her head and face repeatedly.
He clasped his hands around her throat and Katy started trying to call for help and Stevenson then went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife.
He stabbed her three times in the chest with the wounds about 10.5cm, 3cm and 7cm in depth.
Stevenson told police in later interviews he then fell asleep in Katy’s bed.
When he woke in the morning of December 30 and realised what he had done, Stevenson decided to barricade the front door and climbed out of the building via the drainpipe.
Stevenson travelled to Falkirk by train and he bought more alcohol from ASDA.
On December 31 he had travelled to North Berwick to slash his wrists as he decided he was going to kill himself.
But he called 999 and was taken by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he was treated and later detained by police.
Stevenson would later recall to officers when being interviewed that he “sat down in the grass and decided I have to face up to this and I need Katy’s family to get justice”.
When he was in custody, Stevenson added: “If it wasn’t her it would have been someone else.”
Detective Inspector Margaret-Ann May, Senior Investigating Officer on this case, said: “Firstly, I would like to convey my sincere condolences to the Rourke family.
“What they have endured over the last five months is incomprehensible, and I must thank them for their strength and courage during this very difficult time.
“This was a very distressing case culminating in the death of a bright, popular young woman with her whole life ahead of her.”
“A diligent and through investigation by the Major Investigation Team lead to Gary Stevenson admitting his guilt today, and I am glad that this has spared the family the trauma of a trial.”
“My thoughts are with the family.”
For more on the case at the High Court in Glasgow today, see tonight’s Evening Telegraph.
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