The sentencing of Angus jockey Jan Wilson’s killer has been delayed.
Scot Peter Brown had been due to return to court this week to learn his fate after being convicted in May of the manslaughter of Jan (19), from Greenhead, near Forfar, and young Irishman Jamie Kyne.
The teenagers perished in a fire started by Brown at a block of flats in Norton, North Yorkshire, last September in what a court heard was a drunken revenge attack after the father-of-one was refused entry to a party there.
Brown was originally charged with the murder of the young riders predicted to have a bright future in horse racing but was convicted of their manslaughter after a 19-day trial and 20 hours of jury deliberations at Leeds Crown Court.
Brown (37), a labourer originally from Dyce, near Aberdeen, was remanded in custody for the preparation of reports and it is understood there have been delays in compiling them.
Leeds Crown Court confirmed that Brown’s case had been scheduled to call on Friday, but had been postponed.
A new calling date has not yet been set, a court official added.
The delay further prolongs the agony faced by Jan’s and Jamie’s families to see the man responsible for the horrific crime learn how long he will spend behind bars.
Yesterday Jan’s mother, Margaret, said she had been informed of the latest development.
“We will be going back down to Leeds to see him sentenced and it is a bit longer that we have to wait, but we would rather the courts had all the appropriate reports available,” she added.
The case delay follows an emotional weekend for the Wilsons that saw the unveiling of a memorial to their daughter on a favoured spot in her adopted home of North Yorkshire.
Accompanied by friends from Angus, Mr and Mrs Wilson travelled to the High Moor at Middleham where a bench has been placed for friends of Jan and visitors to sit and take in the stunning views.Weekend of emotionsThe Wilsons also visited the Penhill Beacon spot where Jan was photographed shortly before her tragic death, just ahead of a football match involving teams from Middleham and Thirsk and including many of their daughter’s friends.
“It was a weekend of emotions,” said Mrs Wilson.
“The bench has been put at the side of the gallops and it will be somewhere that friends can go and remember Jan.”
Another memorial bench is shortly to be placed at Rescobie, overlooked by the Wilson family home east of Forfar.
They have been provided through the Jockey Jan Memorial Fund, which is continuing to support many of the events and organisations the young horsewoman was involved in before leaving Angus to pursue her dream of a career as a jockey.
This summer, the fund has gone on to provide trophies and support to Forfar’s Whitehills Primary, juniors at Forfar and Kirriemuir golf clubs and Forfar Boys Club.
It also funded a trio of new trophies at the recent Angus Show for classes in the children’s and equestrian sections that Jan used to compete in.