Man who stabbed lecturer 114 times gives 'condolences' to victim's family

A male prostitute who killed a university lecturer by stabbing him 114 times has given his 'condolences' to his victim’s family.

Pawel Rodak, 21, snapped when having consensual sex with Roger Gray at the Heriot Watt lecturer’s home in the affluent Merchiston area of Edinburgh.

The 64-year-old’s body was discovered by his upstairs neighbour on March 19 last year after he smelt gas coming from the flat.

The police were called when an engineer could not enter the ground floor property and they found Mr Gray lying dead in his dressing gown in the hallway. The flat had also been ransacked.

Rodak was found guilty of culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility after standing trial for murder.

Rodak claimed his post-traumatic stress disorder had been sparked by Mr Gray slapping him during a sex act. The 21-year-old told the court he has been raped when he was 15 and the slap had reminded him of the rape, which triggered the violence.

He was due to be sentenced at the High Court in Livingston on Friday where his lawyer told the court his client regretted his actions.

Murdo MacLeod said: "He has asked me publicly express his regret for the commission of this offence and his profound condolences for the family of Mr Gray and the suffering they have endured."

He added that Rodak wanted to be treated for the mental health problems which led t the killing.

He said: "This was his one and only foray into the world of prostitution, with disastrous consequences. This happened in sado-masochistic circumstances. Clearly Mr Gray had something in mind for that evening.

"It's unlikely that the issue of non-consenting behaviour will arise in future. Mr Rodak would be extremely unlikely to put himself in such situations again."

Judge Michael O'Grady said he wanted to get a risk assessment report before passing sentencing.

He said: "This is a very unique case and there are quite extraordinary features. The current information on managing risk is non-existent.

"Given that it is such an unusual situation and given the dreadful nature of this offence it appears to me that the closest and most professional inquiry would be necessary, regardless of what at the end the outcome would be.

"I say that naturally in relation to the public interest and it would appear also to be in the interest of Mr Rodak."

Once he had killed Mr Gray, Rodak left a lit candle next to four gas burners in the kitchen and fled.

Police caught him after his Polish bank card was found lying in the debris in the flat.

Mr Gray's brother Fred said the family would "never forget" the lecturer.

He said: "I came here to observe justice being done and to obtain closure on my brother's death. In my view, the evidence presented has shown beyond any reasonable doubt that my brother was killed by Pawel Rodak.

"There is nothing that can bring my brother back. He spent his working life in academia where he was recognised as a gifted teacher and ambassador for his university.

"His killer will have plenty of time to reflect on his actions, and will hopefully devote the next phase of his life to make himself a better person fit to contribute to society.

"Our family can move on, but we will never forget Roger, who helped many people during his life.

"Finally, I would like to put on the record the excellent support provided to me by the two Lothian and Borders Police Family Liaison Officers who assisted me during the police investigation."

Rodak will be sentenced in September after being assessed at the Royal Edinburgh Hosptial.

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