CAROL STALKED BY EVIL NEIGHBOUR.

Byline: By JILLY BEATTIE

KENNETH Callaghan had stalked pretty Carol Gouldie for at least two months before he murdered her.

Six weeks before her death he had broken into her terraced home and police believe he had planned his deadly attack more than once.

On October 2, 1987, Carol had just returned home to 29 Colvil Street, East Belfast, to get changed into her uniform for her shift at a bar.

Callaghan had earlier broken into the house and waited in a coal cupboard for her to return.

Within seconds of her walking into the back living room, Carol was hit on the head with a metal object.

As she fell to the floor she had a cushion cover placed over her head, her hands and neck were bound with her own freshly-laundered tights and was arranged so she slumped over a velvet chair.

Callaghan murdered Carol by bashing her around the head and in a final act of evil he raped the 22-year-old when she was dead or dying.

Carol's lodger, student Valerie Kerr, discovered the body of the legal secretary two days later when she returned from her weekend at home.

Police launched a murder investigation and enquiries led them to Kenneth Callaghan at No23, just seven doors from the murder scene.

Asked if he had seen anything on the weekend Carol was killed, Callaghan claimed he had seen nothing except a white Opal Mantra outside No29.

But as he spoke, he snapped the strap of his watch and appeared agitated. Officers immediately suspected him.

Forensics officers matched Callaghan's shoe prints to the murder scene and during his first interview he admitted the murder.

He was jailed for life and has served 21 years.

CAPTION(S):

BATTERED Carol on a trip to Canada