THE deli owner who murdered teenager Paige Doherty in a frenzied knife attack has been granted leave to appeal his sentence, it has been reported.
John Leathem, 32, was handed a 27-year sentence for the brutal slaying of the 15-year-old from Clydebank.
Leathem stabbed the girl to death inside his sandwich shop on March 19 this year.
Paige suffered 61 stab wounds, mainly to her head and neck.
Last night a post on a Facebook page dubbed Justice for Paige said the dad-of-one had been granted the right to appeal.
It said: “Today, Tuesday 15th of November, it has been confirmed that Paige’s killer has been accepted to have his appeal heard & this will be heard before the end of the year. We now have less than 7 weeks to campaign for #JusticeForPaige. There are absolutely no words to describe how Paige’s family, friends & community feel.”
Almost 2000 people had liked the post and hundreds left message of support for the family.
Paige’s body was discovered in undergrowth two days after she was reported missing.
It is believed her body was stored in a garden shed before it was left near Great Western Road to the north of the town.
Sentencing Leathem judge Lady Rae said: “What you did was truly reprehensible.
“It is impossible to comprehend how an apparently happily married man, with a young child, who is running a successful business, is capable of such an horrific level of violence.”
A Crown Office spokesman was unavailable to confirm last night if Leathem had been granted leave to appeal.
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