murrell sentencing - enter your guesses....

[LaliqueSaltGrinder]

So how long do we all think he'll get? Not a legal expert. Natalie McGarry was sentenced to 2 years, reduced to 20 months on appeal, for embezzling £25k. 20 months for this woman https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2026/february/woman-jailed-for-embezzlement-in-dunoon/ in Dunoon who stole £40k. But this guy https://www.scottishfinancialnews.com/articles/aberdeen-accountant-embezzled-ps95000-from-oil-firm-to-fund-gambling-addiction in Aberdeen stole £96k and was given a community service order. In terms of value, the nearest I could see was this case https://www.scottishfinancialnews.com/articles/woman-jailed-for-construction-firm-embezzlement-worth-more-than-ps500000-ordered-to-repay-over-ps80000 whivch was £500k, sentenced to 38 months.

So I am opening the bidding at 40 months.

12 months suspended <cynical>

five years

Surely there will be uproar if he gets a suspended sentence...?!

4 years

I don't know how long, but I'd be very surprised if it's NOT suspended.

In the region of 4 years, and I very much doubt there will be any leniency because there is an "eroding public trust" consideration in play.

Yes, I think suspended whatever it is, maybe with conditions .maybe volunteer hours and pay back money. No jail though.

12 months community service.

High profile embezzlement cases tend to be severe punishments.

I reckon 7 to 10 years

18 months suspended, not quite as cynical as @beigetriangle

I think they can only suspend a maximum length of sentence though.

Anyway I’m going for 5 - 7 years. Not suspended. There are significant aggravating factors and not much in mitigation, at least not that we know of yet.

36 months, not suspended

It would be interesting if he DID get time and, whilst in prison, took note of the dismal conditions and became radicalised as a "Keep Prisons Single Sex" activist.

Given that he made a plea deal I suspect it will be a suspended sentence. It also wouldn’t surprise me if the SNP as “victims” had made a plea for leniency. So I reckon 2 years suspended.

Not long, not suspended.

Agree. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-44239469

Would they have remanded him in custody if there was any chance of it being suspended?

Same.

If by some miracle it's not suspended then it will be far less than expected. He's getting something in return for protecting NS and the others who knew.

I think he’ll have to get custody because of the high profile nature and the abuse of his position of trust in public office. I’d be surprised if more than 4yrs though. Maybe he’ll start identifying as a woman once sentenced and ask to move to a nice female jail?

👀

Will be interesting to see what he comes up with in mitigation. The Aberdeen case I linked to was a suspended/community sentence because of a longstanding gambling addiction which started when the guy concerned was a child. He's not going to be able to claim that because he was not stealing money, he was stealing stuff.

Not long enough.

My guess is similar, But some 50%? suspended. Two yrs max in prison. There was no coercion of others or threats of violence. But he was in a position of trust.

5 years

3 years, not suspended. Out by Christmas 2027. No money will be paid back.