Two prisoners serving life sentences for murder have failed in their appeal to the UK Supreme Court claiming that their human rights were infringed as they do not have the right to vote in the upcoming independence referendum.
One of the men who pursued the case, Leslie Moohan, killed his room mate in a guest house on Harrison Road in 2008. He claimed that he snapped when taunted by his victim about counselling he was receiving, but could not remember killing the victim David Redpath. He is not eligible for release until February 2023.
The UK Supreme Court chaired by Lord Neuberger issued a summary decision less than an hour after the case closed and an announcement on the court website says that they will issue reasons later.
When the two prisoners took their case to the Court of Session in Edinburgh seeking a judicial review the court heard that there is a blanket ban on prisoners voting enacted by the Scottish Parliament in The Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Act 2013. Those who are held on remand or imprisoned for contempt of court are not affected and they retain the right to vote. The Court of Session also rejected the case at that stage.
