The family of a Glasgow toddler who was murdered by a thug with a modified air rifle is living in fear that the killer will move back into their street.
Mark Bonini has served almost 18 years for murdering two-year-old Andrew Morton by shooting him in the head with an airgun he had modified to increase its power.
Andrew’s family wants Bonini barred from returning to Garthamlock if he is released. Sharon McMillan and Andy Morton, who still live in the area where the tragedy unfolded, were angered by a letter Andy received from the Parole Board telling them Bonini has another hearing coming up, reports the Daily Record.
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The heartbroken parents believe their previous objections to Bonini’s return have been forgotten.
A letter from Parole Board chiefs said: “In regards to representations, I wanted to double check yourself and Sharon do not wish to include any licence conditions requests, such as geographical exclusions, should the prisoner be released?”
The couple wrote back immediately, reminding the board of previous letters and making it clear they would not accept Bonini being allowed back into their community.
Their letter reads: “We find your question troubling and insulting. It seems no one took the time to read our previous letters.
“We have stressed that we would object greatly to Bonini being allowed to return to the area where we live.
“We have told you we do not think it is acceptable that we should have to risk bumping into the man who murdered our beloved son and we certainly don’t want our children and grandchildren to have to encounter him.
“How are we supposed to react to seeing him in the street, at the bus stop, at the shops?”
The letter goes on to explain the couple lives at home with their three younger children, Calvin, 18, Mercedes, 12, and Tulisa, 10.
Calvin, they say, is now a young man and they don’t want to worry about him getting into trouble because he bumps into the man who murdered his brother.
The letter adds: “Our older son, Brian, who is mentally scarred by having Andrew in his arms when he was shot, has recently returned to work locally after some years away and is a regular visitor to our home.”
The couple also says older daughters Cheryl and Sammy come to the family home regularly.
The letter urges the board to use its powers to exclude Bonini from the area. Sharon and Andy argue that although Bonini’s minimum term was set at just 13 years, he has done nothing to deserve his freedom.
The letter closes: “We state again that Bonini has shown no remorse, no understanding of the consequences of his actions, and therefore has not addressed his offending behaviour and should not be released.”
Andrew was only two and being carried to the shops by big brother Brian when Bonini, now 44, shot him through the head in March 2005. Bonini was jailed for life in August of that year.
Sharon, 51, said: “He murdered Andrew when he was little more than a baby.
“He should have got at least 25 years and, even then, he should have had to show remorse before getting out.”
Andy, 47, added: “How is any father supposed to react if he sees the guy that murdered his baby walking down the street?”
The family are frequent visitors to Andrew’s grave, which is always decorated with lights and tributes. They will visit over Christmas, which is especially emotional for them, and in April they face more heartache as it is the time they should have been celebrating Andrew’s 21st birthday.
Andy said: “We talk to him, tell him we miss him.
“The grief for our family is still raw.
“Andrew never got to grow up, go to school, have a job, fall in love.
“But we let him know he’s not forgotten and never will be.”
Sharon and Andy channelled their initial grief into doing something positive in memory of their son. They fought tirelessly for 12 years for Andrew’s Law, demanding a ban on air weapons.
The Scottish Parliament finally passed legislation in 2017, requiring the weapons to be licensed, and owners – such as farmers – to show they needed them.
In the run-up to the legislation being approved, 18,000 air weapons were handed into Police Scotland.
The parole board does not comment on individual cases.
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