Domestic abuse brute who murdered his partner may spend rest of life behind bars
A convicted domestic abuser has been jailed for at least 22 years for the brutal murder of his partner.
Mark Keel, 33, killed Maxine Clark at her home in Riddrie, Glasgow, leaving her with more than 50 injuries.
The 36-year-old mother had already suffered at the tattooed thug's violent hands prior to her death and had been seen with a black eye.
It emerged Keel already had abuse convictions in connection with former partners.
He has now been jailed for life having earlier pleaded guilty to a murder at the High Court in Glasgow.
Sentencing, Lord Mulholland went through the catalogue of horrific injuries he inflicted on Ms Clark including brain damage, significant bruising, fractures and wounds.
Lord Mulholland told him: 'What you did was cowardly, evil and the actions of a brute.'
He warned Keel - who showed no emotion - that he may never been freed.
The court earlier heard that prior to the relationship with Ms Clark, he had previously been made the subject of strict non-harassment orders banning him from approaching or contacting three former partners.
This also included him being jailed in June 2022 for domestic violence.
In 2023, he was also told to attend the Caledonian System - a project for men guilty of such abuse - with Keel being deemed 'a high risk offender'.
But his attendance was described as 'sporadic'.
He also went on to flout a court-imposed community payback order.
In January last year, Keel was instead put on 12-months supervision as well as an 18-week curfew.
At the time of the killing, Keel and mother-of-four Ms Clark had been in a relationship for 18 months.
He had recently moved into her home in Riddrie.
She had once been described as 'healthy, happy and outgoing' but had told others of physical violence at the hands of her new partner.
Ms Clark had been seen with black eyes as well an injury to her jaw. She also had 'grab marks' around her neck.
She admitted to a neighbour Keel had punched her but was scared to report the thug in fear of repercussions.
Prosecutor David Dickson said: 'Family and friends warned her they felt Keel posed a threat to her.'
In the hours before the murder, Keel called his own mother asking to get picked up claiming he was 'leaving' Ms Clark before returning back to the house and murdering her.
A child also staying at the house got up the next morning to find Maxine still in the bed with Keel wrapped in a blanket sitting beside her.
Mr Dickson said: 'She appeared to have fresh injuries to her face and her breathing was described as laboured.'
Keel claimed he thought she was having an allergic reaction and there was no need for an ambulance.
He later called 999 claiming Ms Clark's tongue was swollen and that he had not seen her awake that day.
Mercy crews arrived to find her still lying on the blood-stained bed partially covered with a duvet.
But she was already dead with 51 separate injuries likely caused by punches, kicks and being stamped upon with the imprint of the soles of hiss shoes found on her leg.
Ms Clark was the only child of her grieving parents Joseph and Mary.
The court heard yesterday that Keel had been a promising footballer in his teens before getting in with the 'wrong crowd'.
Around 2014, he lost his baby son to an illness.
Brian McConnachie KC, defending, said: 'It appears, from this point onwards, there was a pattern of offending and offending of a particular nature.'
The advocate added the murder had taken place on the anniversary of the child's death.
He stated that was not an 'excuse' for what then happened, but said: 'Undoubtedly, due to the timing of the event, Mark Keel's mood was a particularly bad one on that day.'
Keel was now 'deeply ashamed and remorseful' for what he did.
Lord Mulholland cut the minimum jail-term from 24 years due to the guilty plea.
Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Ian Evans said: 'Keel is a violent individual and women are safer now he has been convicted for his crimes.
'Maxine was a beloved mum and daughter. Maxine's family miss her every day and they still feel her loss profoundly. I hope they find some solace in knowing Keel is no longer able to inflict his brutal and violent behaviour on any other women.'
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