Evil killer admits Cronberry murders

Feb 12 2010 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A CONVICTED sex offender admitted raping and murdering a mother and daughter before dumping their bodies.

Former soldier Thomas Smith will spend at least 32 years in jail for the killing of Diane and Holly Fallon.

The tiny community of Cronberry was shocked by the horrific murders of Diane and 10-year-old Holly.

Smith, 26, who was a friend of Diane, subjected both to a sickening sex assault before he choked them with a Playstation cable using a technique he’d perfected in the army.

He then dumped their bodies – Holly’s in a nearby river and Diane’s in undergrowth – before claiming he had accidentally killed them.

The High Court in Glasgow was told this week that Smith – a former private in the Royal Logistics Corps – had been jailed for six months in 2006 for abusing a 10-year-old girl in Teeside.

Judge Lord Turnbull jailed Smith for life and told him his crimes had set “a benchmark for atrocity.”

He went on: “You have chosen not to say what you did to this mother and daughter and you have chosen not to say why you did this terrible thing.

“Their family and friends are left with the dread that Holly may have been kept alive and abused for some time after her mother died.

“What you did to each of your victims was sadistic torture. You told nothing like the truth about how each had been murdered.

“Even in these courts where we see the worst of humanity, your conduct stands out as exceptional.

“You have set a benchmark for atrocity below which it is difficult to imagine anyone sinking.”

Members of the victims’ family yelled “rot in hell” as an expressionless Smith was lead to the cells.

On March 28 – the day of the killings – Diane and her daughter took part in a community fun day.

That evening, Smith and mum-of-four Diane exchanged texts and arranged to play on his new pool table at his flat.

Smith had collected two pairs of pyjamas given as a present for Holly from a friend of her mum’s.

Prosecutor Derek Ogg said Holly made her last ever entry in her treasured diary looking forward to visiting Smith’s flat.

It read: “Dear diary, I am in Tom’s house. My mum and he are playing snooker. I want to play and I hope I can. Love you, bye.”

The following lunchtime, a 15-year-old boy went to the Fallon’s door and heard a voice saying: “Ssh, Holly.”

He went home to tell his parents, but they thought nothing of it at the time.

Maureen Cardie – Holly’s head teacher at St John’s Primary in Cumnock – became concerned after the girl failed to attend for days.

On April 8, Smith confessed to his father Thomas senior that he had “accidentally” murdered the pair after Diane had come at him with a knife.

Mr Smith then went to the police, who quizzed his sex offender son.

Although he admits killing them, Smith still denies any sexual contact with Holly.

Holly’s semi-naked remains were found submerged under water on April 8. It was covered by around 100 boulders to weigh down the body.

Diane’s body was discovered four miles from her home. Her hands were tied behind her back using a computer cable and it had been eaten by wild animals.

She was found to have a fractured skull, pelvis and three broken ribs, as well as fractures to bones in her throat. The cause of death was compression of the neck. She also sustained blunt force trauma to her head and had injuries to her private parts.

The court heard she may have only survived for less than 35 minutes after the head injuries were inflicted.

Holly was found to have sustained blunt force trauma to her head and significant internal injuries after being raped. Smith’s DNA was found on her body. The cause of her death was strangulation.

Strathclyde Police were aware of his registration, but say Smith had not come to their attention while he lived in Cronberry.

Outside the court, Diane’s sister described Smith as “evil personified.”