THE findings of a fatal accident inquiry into the death of a killer who butchered a teenage mum from Alexandria has been published.

Michael McArthur was serving life for the murder of Amy Anderson more than 20 years ago when he died last year.

Amy's naked torso was discovered on the banks of the River Leven in May 2002.

Originally from Dumfries, Amy, 19, was a college student but ended up on the streets after becoming addicted to heroin. 

At the time of her death, Amy had a one-year-old daughter.

McArthur, who died behind bars on April 11, 2022, was eventually found guilty of Amy's murder and sentenced to life in behind bars by the High Court in Edinburgh two years later.

He remained in custody until his death in April 2022 at HM Prison Dumfries.

A fatal accident inquiry – a legal requirement following any death in custody in Scotland - was held by Sheriff Kevin McCallum at Dumfries Sheriff Court on March 3.

In his newly-published findings, Sheriff McCallum concluded that McArthur’s death was not an accident, and that he died of natural causes.

He said the death was caused by sepsis, the result of bilateral pyelonephritis, liver cirrhosis, type 2 diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The sheriff said that on the available evidence there were no precautions which could reasonably have been taken that might have resulted in McArthur’s death being avoided.

The sheriff heard evidence from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and legal representatives for the Scottish Prison Service and Dumfries and Galloway Health Board at the inquiry.

In his report - which stated that McArthur was 76 when he died, not 74 as had been stated by the Scottish Prison Service following his death - Sheriff McCallum said McArthur suffered from “multiple long-term medical conditions”, including drug and alcohol abuse, cirrhosis, type 2 diabetes, angina, chronic obstructive disease and ankolysing spondylitis.

He was taken to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary on the evening of April 7, 2022 after falling ill in prison, with the FAI report stating that “on admission…[he] was assessed to be clinically unwell and approaching the end of life”.

All treatments were discontinued two days later, and he died at 10.23pm on April 11.

Sheriff McCallum said that on the evidence given to the inquiry, the medical and general treatment of McArthur was "adequate and appropriate".

He concluded his report by offering the court's condolences to McArthur's family.

McArthur, who lived in a derelict container in Alexandria at the time of Amy's death, was found guilty in November 2004 of murdering his victim on waste ground alongside the Leven in Alexandria.

A month later, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and told he would serve 20 years behind bars before being eligible for release on licence.

That 20-year period – backdated to September 2004, when he was first remanded in custody – was later reduced to 16 years following an appeal in 2007, but McArthur was never released from prison.

During McArthur's trial, he claimed to have become a "father figure" to the young woman and to have let her sleep in the derelict container.

He also claimed she was pregnant at the time.

Amy's pelvis was discovered in a pond near the river in November 2003, but her head, arms and legs have never been found.

The FAI report can be read in full at the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service's website.