Teenager raped and killed frail pensioner who regarded him as a grandson

Jay Soso: The teenager admitted killing Marie Reid.

A teenager raped and killed a frail pensioner who regarded him as a grandson.

Jay Soso carried out the sex attack on 63-year-old Marie Reid at her home in Edinburgh in 2010.

Mrs Reid's body was discovered four days after the killing as her family and neighbours became worried because they had not heard from her.

She was found lying in the living room of her home in Easter Drylaw Way in a bloodstained nightie.

Initially, police thought that Mrs Reid's death was not suspicious, but her 31-year-old son Paul pressed for further investigations to be made.

Speaking outside the High Court in Glasgow on Friday after Suso admitted the killing, he said: "There was something not right. I got a funny feeling as soon as I entered the house.

"He said he became worried that something terrible had happened to her when he noticed that her pre-paid meter for her television was missing along with a tin she collected loose change in and her purse was empty."

Soso and his mother lived next door to Mrs Reid for five years between 2003 and 2008.

He helped Mrs Reid by running errands for her and she was described by Soso's mother Sharon as treating him "like a grandson".

Soso's family moved to England, but he did not like it there and moved back to Edinburgh. By 2010 he had a job in a fishmongers in the city and lived close to Mrs Reid.

In court, prosecutor Leanne Cross said that Mrs Reid kept very poor health was frail and could only walk short distances before becoming breathless.

Miss Cross added: "Her GP described her as having the health of an 80-year-old. Neighbours who knew her speak of her frailty, breathlessnes and lack of mobility. She was only able to walk short distances even with a walking frame.

"She had been unable to leave her home in the six weeks prior to her death, such was the state of her health."

The cause of death was unascertained, but pathologists said that the rape would have put an additional strain on her heart and lungs and could predispose her to sudden death.

Suso was initially charged with murdering Mrs Reid on November 11, 2010, but the charged was reduced to culpable homicide, to which he pled guilty.

The killer told police he had not seen Mrs Reid for a couple of months. However, he gave a mouth swab which was a match for DNA found on Mrs Reid’s body.

Judge Lady Dorrian deferred sentence on Soso of Spring Gardens, Edinburgh, for background reports and an assessment of the risk he poses to the public until later this month and remanded him in custody.

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