Mark Keel: Domestic abuser jailed for 'cowardly and evil' murder of Glasgow woman
A serial domestic abuser who brutally murdered his partner in a "cowardly and evil" attack has been jailed for at least 22 years.
Warning: This article includes details of domestic abuse that readers may find distressing.
Mark Keel, 33, left victim Maxine Clark, 36, with 51 separate injuries following the fatal assault at her home in Glasgow's Riddrie area on 27 June 2024.
A court heard Ms Clark's injuries included brain damage, blunt force bruising and lacerations to her face and head, and a fractured jaw from Keel stomping on her while she lay on the ground.
She also sustained a collapsed lung, lacerated liver, fractured ribs, and haemorrhages to her mouth, tongue and areas surrounding her heart.
Such was the force of Keel's attack, the imprint of the soles of his shoes were found on Ms Clark's leg.
Lord Mulholland said Keel "brutally and savagely" attacked a "defenceless woman".
The judge added: "Ultimately the injuries you inflicted caused cardiorespiratory arrest. The injuries were caused by multiple blows such as punches and kicks and stamps.
"The force used by you to inflict these injuries was such that impact spatter blood spots were recovered on the headboard of the bed."
Lord Mulholland noted Keel's history of domestic abuse with three previous partners and stated at the time of the murder, he was subject to a Community Payback Order (CPO) and Restriction of Liberty Order (RLO) for an earlier conviction.
Ms Clark, who was an only child, had also been seen with black eyes and "grab marks" to her neck.
Lord Mulholland rebuked Keel for failing to get medical help for Ms Clark as she lay dying.
The judge stated: "To the contrary, you pretended that she had suffered an allergic reaction and there was no need to call an ambulance.
"When G4S staff attended at your home address to fit a tag on your leg, you told them to come back later.
"When you eventually called an ambulance, you told them that she had a swollen tongue and was struggling to breathe.
"This call was the best part of at least half a day after you had savagely beaten her. What you did to this defenceless woman was cowardly and evil. They were the actions of a brute."
At the High Court in Glasgow last month, Keel pleaded guilty to Ms Clark's murder.
He was handed a life sentence with at least 22 years behind bars when he returned to the dock on Tuesday.
Lord Mulholland warned Keel he may never be freed, stating: "You will only be released if you are considered by the parole board to pose no risk to the public, particularly women, and that is a long way off, if ever."
Following the court case, Detective Sergeant Ian Evans branded Keel a "violent individual".
He added: "Women are safer now that 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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Too often, victims of violence against women and girls are let down by our criminal justice system, compounding what is already a traumatic experience. I have strong views on the reasons why. Chief among them: 14 years of governments whose approach was nothing short of negligent. This resulted in too few bobbies on the beat, overflowing prisons and a record backlog in our courts, leaving victims of very serious crimes waiting years to see perpetrators in court. In short, a broken criminal justice system in desperate need of repair. The impact on victims and public trust in the justice system was significant. A creaking criminal justice system undermines one of the basic principles fundamental to our democracy: the rule of law. That is to say the law applies to everyone equally and all must have access to justice. This happened despite the work of thousands of dedicated public servants to protect us all. I've met many of them – including the prosecutors from across the country that dedicate their careers to sifting through evidence, often in harrowing crimes, to build a case and pursue justice on behalf of victims. Empowering rape victims This Government has begun the difficult task of fixing our criminal justice system as part of the Plan for Change, in which we pledge to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. To achieve this, we are putting domestic abuse specialists into 999 control rooms, introducing new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders, doing more to effectively tackle spiking, stalking and coercive behaviour. That means better support in place for victims and giving them the confidence that specialists are helping them. These changes will also see more police on our streets, locking up abusers, but importantly – getting quicker justice and support for those suffering at the hands of perpetrators of these horrific crimes. As Solicitor General, I've heard heart-wrenching accounts of women's experience of the criminal justice system – sometimes lasting years – which have seriously impacted their mental health, wellbeing and relationships. We cannot let this go on, which is why we are ensuring that adult victims of rape and serious sexual offences will have access to a dedicated victim liaison officer, as well as pre-trial meetings, so that they feel more prepared for court. The right to question But we have to do more. In particular, it is vital that our criminal justice system further empowers victims to best navigate it. It was Prime Minister Keir Starmer who, as the director of public prosecutions, launched the Victims' Right to Review Scheme in 2013, to give victims and bereaved families the right to challenge decisions not to charge suspects or drop cases. Leading victims' rights voices, like Jade Blue McCrossen-Nethercott, the Centre for Women's Justice, Dame Vera Baird and Claire Waxman OBE, the Victims' Commissioner, have recognised the success of this scheme and that is why we are extending it to better support more victims. A new pilot launched this week will give survivors of rape and serious sexual assault the right to have their case reviewed before CPS makes any final decisions. Currently, criminal cases can be stopped at any point if a prosecutor decides there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. For the first time, survivors of rape or serious sexual abuse will be offered the right to request a review by a different prosecutor before their case is dropped. Where a review finds that the initial decision was wrong, the case against the accused will continue. A system victims deserve The existing scheme is already an important tool in delivering justice, but this new commitment from the CPS will extend that right, so that victims are further empowered to question decisions made in their cases, resulting in fewer cases falling through the cracks and more offenders brought to justice. Beginning on Friday, the pilot will become operational in the West Midlands. If it is a success, we will look to extend this across the country to support all victims of rape and serious sexual assaults. We know there is much to do to fix the justice system. But this is a vital step towards building the system that victims deserve and ultimately make Britain's streets safer.
