A mother confronts her son’s murderer after two decades, describing it as staring into evil itself.
Leggate refused eye contact at his trial. Margaret was there for his parole denial. Her sons, David and Ian, joined her. Leggate sought freedom from prison.
The brothers were young when Mark died; they could not attend the sentencing. They finally saw Leggate, 49, at his parole hearing.
Margaret-Ann said they knew he would appear and she tried preparing herself and her sons. This was their first experience like this. She had flashbacks but stayed strong.
She saw Leggate’s face for the first time then, having only seen the back of his head in court. He was clean shaven, unlike pictures she’d seen.
She had not heard his voice or seen his face. Staring at him, she looked for resemblance. He lost weight and has a bald head now. He looked familiar, yet different.
Margaret-Ann signed a non-disclosure agreement which stops her from discussing case details.
She feels silenced by the Parole Board. The NDA restricts revealing hearing details, and she is unsure about discussing the outcome. Parole chiefs do not announce rejected releases publicly.
Margaret-Ann cannot talk to friends about it. She feels her voice was taken and wants to share her feelings openly.
Leggate sexually assaulted and strangled Mark. He put the body in a bin bag, then drove to cliffs near Berwick-on-Tweed and ditched the trousers he used there.
Leggate had been freed after four years, having assaulted boys aged three to ten. He got a minimum 20-year sentence in 2004 and was eligible for parole last year.
The Parole Board for Scotland does not comment. Victims at parole hearings sign a confidentiality agreement which covers only hearing information. The Board tells victims the outcome.