The family of Stacy Mair, who was murdered in Renfrewshire last month, have said she was failed by the justice system after her estranged husband was granted bail weeks before her death.
The 35-year-old’s mother said her daughter might still be alive if Jim Mair had been monitored with a GPS tag before her death.
Stacy, whose maiden name was Stacy Hunter, was found dead at a cottage in the village of Houston on July 27. Police treated her death as murder.
Her estranged husband, Jim Mair, 43, was also found dead at the cottage, with his death being treated as unexplained.
Jim Mair had appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court on July 6 charged with assaulting the 35-year-old mother.
Stacy’s mother, Ann Hunter, and her brother, Sean Hunter, spoke to BBC Radio Scotland on Wednesday.
They supported a petition which called for “a dedicated GPS electronic monitoring scheme for domestic abuse perpetrators who are assessed as posing a significant risk to a partner” or former partner.
It says this can create an exclusion zone around a victim’s home.
Ann remembered Stacy as “a strong, independent woman – very much so for her children and all her family”.
She continued: “That light got dimmed and taken away from her, and I want her children to remember we’re having a voice for her now”.
Asked if Stacy had been failed by the system, Ann said: “Definitely, absolutely.”
She said Jim Mair would not have been granted bail if the full circumstances of the case had been considered.
Ann described how she had noticed signs of coercive control in Jim and Stacey’s relationship.
When Stacey said she was leaving he started to become “violently aggressive” towards her, Ann said.
After an incident in which he tried to strangle her, Jim was arrested, Ann said.
She said: “He should never have been let out in bail.
“And, at the very least, if he had been let out on bail, (he should have had) this tag on him to monitor where he was.”
If a tag had been in place, “maybe she would still be here”, Ann said.
The First Minister was asked about the “Stacy’s Law” proposals for GPS monitoring of domestic abuse offenders as he spoke to journalists in Fife on Wednesday.
John Swinney said he was aware of the campaign, describing it as having “strong and important proposals”.
He told Press Association: “I will give them very serious consideration as the government formulates what I want to be recognised as a sustained effort by the government, under my personal leadership, to tackle violence against women and girls in our society.
A spokesperson for the Crown Office said: “The actions of Jim Mair have left Stacy’s loved ones devastated and we offer them our sincere condolences.
“If the family would find it helpful, we are available to meet with them and answer any questions they may have about the role of prosecutors in the case against Mair.”
A spokesperson for the Judicial Office said they could not comment on individual cases.
The spokesperson said: “When a person appears in court, the court must decide whether they should be remanded in custody or remain in the community on bail while they await further hearings in their case.
“Bail decisions taken by the judiciary are governed by legislation, taking in to account the unique circumstances of the case and any information provided to the court by the Crown and the defence.
“The decision can be appealed by the Crown or the defence.
“In granting bail, the court shall impose on the accused the standard conditions set out in legislation and consider any requests by the Crown to add additional conditions.
“If the Crown or the defence wish to alter bail conditions, they can make an application to the court.”
Government to take ‘significant measures’ to protect women and girls – Swinney
Police not ruling out link between A66 crash and fatal house fire
Swinney ‘surprised’ Burnham not coming to Scotland on listening tour
Dramatic footage shows speedboat ‘thief’ ram €1m vehicle into coastguard off Ibiza
Girl, 13, among UK tourists feared missing after flash flooding
‘I’ve prepped for a catastrophic solar flare with 250 days of tins and rations’
