Snugly wrapped up against the winter cold, bedsit butcher Pamela Gourlay walks her dog without a care in the world.
For the first time since the knife killer was freed on parole six years ago, the Daily Record photographed her out in public.
Her brutal murder of 22-year-old care worker Melanie Sturton 20 years ago has been laid bare again in a global crime podcast.
It was hoped the series would coax Gourlay out of hiding to at least apologise to Melanie’s family and ease their grief.
But Gourlay, who has rebuilt her life with a house, job, partner, car and pet, snubbed an opportunity offered by journalist Isla Traquair on the family’s behalf.
The Daily Record helped Traquair track down Gourlay to an end-terrace, two-bedroom home in a sleepy corner of Stirling.
Neighbours seem blissfully unaware of her brutal and unprovoked slaughter of Melanie in Aberdeen on October 9, 1999.
Yet over the past weeks, nearly half a million people have listened to Murder Most Foul exposing the unvarnished truth about Gourlay.
Gourlay, now 40, repeatedly slit her downstairs neighbour’s throat in a crime that horrified detectives when her blood-soaked body was found behind the door of her bedsit.
Gourlay has never been photographed in public since being jailed for 14 years in 2000 until the Record and Traquair confronted her.
Two year ago, a social media image was shared showing her smiling at a works Christmas bash in a T-shirt with a penguin in a Santa hat.
But days ago, dressed in a quilted hooded black jacket, sports gear and designer trainers, she was stoney-faced – much like she looked being led off to prison after being found guilty of murder.
Judge Lord Marnoch described it as a crime of “almost unimaginable depravity” and Gourlay as “an evil and cold blooded young woman”.
But Gourlay, who has never publicly expressed any remorse for the killing, is not willing to say sorry to Melanie family and that opportunity has now passed.
Melanie’s mum Susan Patrick said: “I’m just glad so many people now know the truth about Pamela Gourlay.
“I feel I’ve been shouting into a void for 20 years with no one listening.
“This was not a normal murder and I don’t understand, to this day, how she could have been released from jail.
“I’ve found peace now. I’m glad she’s been tracked down. She still looks arrogant and she still looks evil.
“It’s upsetting that she seems to be living a nice, normal suburban life and even has a dog.
“I don’t believe she deserves the love of a dog. For the past 20 years, every time I’m in a city or a crowd, I’m looking over my shoulder wondering if I will see her.
“Now, at least, I know where she is and I don’t have to do that. Perhaps now it’s her turn.”
Susan believes Gourlay choosing to stay silent proves she hasn’t changed.
Traquair’s podcast has brought messages of support to Susan from all over the world including America, Australia and Canada.
It also brought a reunion with Kris Taylor, the innocent boyfriend Gourlay tried to blame for the murder.
We told last week how he’d only been dating Gourlay for a few months when he was dragged into the nightmare.
He’s found comfort by finally meeting Melanie’s mother, who reassured him she never swallowed Gourlay’s web of lies.
Kris told Susan: “I’ve been waiting a long time to meet you. I’m so sorry for the loss of your daughter.”
Susan, of Ballater, Aberdeenshire, said: “I lost my daughter but in some ways, what Kris has gone through is worse. He should feel no guilt. I never believed what she said in court.
“From this day, she has no power over Kris or me moving forward. It’s time to leave this behind. People will know the truth now and that is what is important.”
Gourlay works for UK-wide retailer Timpson, which has a policy of employing ex-convicts.
She started in a dry cleaning shop in Stirling but it’s understood she’s now in a promoted role, travelling across Scotland.
The company refused to comment on their decision to employ Gourlay.
●Traquair’s podcast series The Storyteller: Murder Most Foul is available on iTunes, Spotify and Acast.
