Man accused of murdering Aberdeen mum Jill Barclay back in court

By Kathryn Wylie

September 29 2022, 3:07 pm

Jill Barclay was allegedly murdered as she walked home from a night out

The man accused of murdering an Aberdeen mum whose body was discovered on fire opposite a road in Dyce has appeared in court for a second time.

Rhys Bennett has again appeared in private at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, accused of striking Jill Barclay on the head by an unknown means.

The 22-year-old, whose address was given as Ballingry in Fife, faces charges of murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

He made no plea, is fully committed and was remanded in custody on Wednesday September 28.

Between 300-400 people attended a vigil and laid flowers at the scene of Jill’s death. Picture by Chris Sumner / DC Thomson

Bennett’s second appearance in the dock comes just over a week since more than 300 people attended a vigil to pay their respects in the wake of Jill’s death.

The 47-year-old mother-of-two was allegedly attacked as she walked home from a night out with a friend on Saturday, September 17.

They’d attended the Adam Ant concert at the Music Hall on Aberdeen’s Union Street earlier, before travelling to the Spider’s Web pub on Dyce’s Station Road.

It’s understood that Mrs Barclay suffered a head injury sometime after leaving the pub.

Firefighters discovered Jill’s body ablaze after they were called to a property opposite the roundabout at Dyce’s Stoneywood Road and Victoria Street around 3.30am.

Tributes poured in for mum-of-two

Floral tributes including bouquets of sunflowers were laid at the alleged scene of crime and tributes soon poured in for the former Hazlehead Academy pupil.

Jill, who worked as a proposals engineer for oil and gas firm Petrofac, was described by her employer as “much loved and respected”.

Almost £24,000 has been raised through a crowdfunding gofundme page to help Jill’s family cover the costs of her funeral.

More than 1,100 people had answered the online appeal and contributed whatever they could spare, with many leaving additional notes of condolences for Jill’s family.

Mark Anderson wrote: “I can’t begin to imagine what the family are going through at the moment and shouldn’t need to worry about money at this time.

“Thoughts go out to all of Jill’s family and friends.”

Police opposite the roundabout at Dyce’s Stoneywood Road and Victoria Street where Jill’s body was found.

Former co-worker Laura Paterson posted on the page: “Jill, a beautiful soul who I had the pleasure of working with many years ago at Thomas Cook when she had just left school.

“I also had the good fortune of knowing her wider family too. Heartfelt condolences go out to each and every one of them at this very sad and tragic time. Thoughts are with her partner and children.

“Jill, rest in peace, Aberdeen will not forget.”

Those sentiments are echoed in a widely-shared column which agreed “Jill’s story deserves to be told. She was someone’s partner, mother, friend, daughter and colleague. Her death is something the community of Dyce will take time to recover from,” it said.