Scots killer who murdered friend cleared of 9-year domestic abuse campaign through lack of evidence
callous Scots killer who murdered a friend has been cleared of claims he hounded his girlfriend for nine years after being released from jail over the killing.Steven Burns was caged for life in 1999 for murdering pal Patrick O'Dowd in their hometown of Barrhead, East Renfrewshire.He stabbed Mr O'Dowd, 26, in the stomach after his victim had asked him to leave a party due to his drunken behaviour.But Burns, 44, was released on parole in 2010 and began a relationship with Joanne O'Rourke, 41.And yesterday, at Paisley Sheriff Court, he was cleared of a nine-year campaign of abuse due to lack of evidence.The court heard the pair met in a pub in 2011 and went on a date the following week.They struck up a romance that led to them having a