Man who murdered partner after football match jailed for 19 years

The court heard Ms McAlear had a “close and loving relationship with her family,” but her death meant she missed the birth of her youngest grandchild.

During sentencing, Lady Haldane said: “To lose her at all is a tragedy, but to lose her in the manner she did, having murderous violence inflicted upon her by someone who was her partner, is, I am sure, unbearable for them.”

She remarked on the “very limited insight and remorse” Higgins had shown in the compiling of a pre-sentencing report.

The judge continued: “You seemed to have focused more on Miss McAlear’s actions which you suggest, on your account, were provocative rather than the numerous opportunities to pull back from what was a murderous assault.

“You left the property without knowing if Miss McAlear was alive or dead.

“This conduct is deplorable. A direct consequence of this is that her son had the unimaginable experience of discovering his deceased mother.”