In 2026, the Offender Database reported that Mark Bonini, then 48, of Easterhouse, Glasgow, has been denied parole. Following a hearing on 27 January 2026, the Parole Board for Scotland rejected Bonini’s bid for early release from his life sentence for the murder of two-year-old Andrew Morton.
The investigation established that in March 2005, Bonini, a drug addict, was taking “potshots” at firefighters from his flat window. He turned a modified air rifle on Andrew Morton, who was being carried by his 13-year-old brother, Brian, to a chip shop. The toddler was shot in the head and died two days later. The prosecution reported that Bonini had intentionally modified the weapon to increase its lethality.
Judicial Findings and Parental Campaign
The court reported that the murder caused “immeasurable” trauma to the victim’s family, particularly to Brian, who witnessed the attack. Andrew’s parents, Sharon McMillan and Andy Morton, successfully campaigned for “Andrew’s Law,” which introduced air weapon licensing in Scotland in 2017. The judge emphasised that the murder was a “vicious” and random act of violence against a defenceless child.
The judge emphasised that Bonini remains a risk to the public. During the 2026 hearing, the family submitted an open letter to parole chiefs demanding he remain “caged” due to the ongoing impact of his “horrific” crime. Upon receiving the news that the bid was rejected, Andy Morton stated that the decision took the “heat off” the family, while Sharon McMillan expressed her relief that her son’s killer would not return to the streets.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Easterhouse, Glasgow, Mark Bonini was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Life imprisonment.
- Punishment Part: A minimum term of 13 years was set in 2005.
- Parole Status: Denied release in January 2026; remains in custody.
- Conviction: Found guilty of the murder of Andrew Morton.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Bonini remains managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) while in the prison system. His history of drug addiction and the “brutal” nature of the murder mean his status is under “critical” scrutiny by the Scottish Prison Service and the Parole Board.
As a life-sentence prisoner, Bonini will remain subject to licence conditions for the rest of his life if he is ever released. Authorities state that his risk of reoffending and the “vulnerable” nature of his victim are central to all parole considerations. Any future hearing will continue to take into account the “deeply damaging” impact on the Morton family in Easterhouse.
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