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Man jailed for 1970s murder of his scientist ex-wife dies

Page family Brenda Page is pictured in the 1970s. She has shoulder length brown hair and is smiling as she sits in a room looking into the camera.Page family
Brenda Page was found murdered in her Aberdeen home in 1978

A man jailed for life for murdering his ex-wife in Aberdeen in the 1970s has died, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has said.

Christopher Harrisson, 85, was found guilty of killing Brenda Page following a trial in 2023.

He had denied murdering the 32-year-old genetics expert in 1978, a year after the couple were divorced.

SPS confirmed Harrisson, who was a prisoner at HMP Grampian, died on Saturday.

Dr Page's body was found on her blood-stained bed in her home on 14 July 1978.

Harrisson was apprehended hours later and interviewed, and a report was submitted to prosecutors.

However, it was decided there was insufficient evidence to take him to court at the time.

It was not until 37 years later in 2015 that the case was re-investigated.

Witnesses were re-interviewed and numerous different forensic organisations were able to analyse the DNA available.

In March 2023, a jury convicted retired research scientist Harrisson of murder.

He showed no emotion when the verdict was read out at the High Court in Aberdeen.

Judge Lord Richardson sentenced Harrisson to life with a minimum period of 20 years before he would be eligible for parole.

The judge said Harrisson, who had no previous convictions, had carried out a "premeditated" attack after stalking Dr Page.

He said it was a "sustained and vicious" attack.

Crown Office A police mugshot of Christopher Harrisson. He is an older man with thinning grey hair. He is wearing a blue fleece-like top as he stares into the camera.Crown Office
A judge said Christopher Harrisson "premeditated" attack after stalking Dr Page

Ipswich-born Dr Page studied zoology at University College London, where a first-class honours bachelor of science degree was followed by a PhD in genetics from the University of Glasgow.

It was during her time studying genetics in Glasgow that she met her future husband in 1971.

Harrisson was born in Ripon in North Yorkshire and studied at Queens' College Cambridge, before later tutoring in biology at Harvard University in the United States.

A spokesperson for the SPS said: "Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual.

"Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised, and the matter reported to the procurator fiscal.

"Fatal accident inquiries are held in due course."