Len Murray features in BBC documentary Inside Barlinnie

Len Murray

Mr Murray was the solicitor who defended Tony Miller, the last ever prisoner to be hanged in Scotland after a murder conviction. Mr Murray was a young lawyer at the time, but it is a case which he took with him to his grave. 

The first three chapters of his book The Pleader, cover the case in detail.

Sadly, when the programme was still in production, Mr Murray passed away. His family asked David McKie, senior partner, to contribute by reading sections from the book and what the case meant to Mr Murray.

David McKie said: “I was very sad that I didn’t get to see Len reading his own first hand account from his excellent book. When his sons asked me to step in for their dad – my good friend and mentor, I was deeply honoured and humbled to do so. 

“It took me back not only to the many hours I spent talking to Len about cases, to a time before I was born, albeit not that long ago in comparative terms, to a different era when absolutely everything was on the line for clients and their lawyers who carried their lives in their hands. 

“As agents, we still carry enormous burdens of responsibility. This particular case reinforced not only Len’s deep passion for his work but the impact solicitors and advocates feel every day when representing clients, whether accused of serious crimes or in any situation where their liberty, reputation or financial standing is at stake.”

Watch Inside Barlinnie here. Mr Murray features in episode three.