The devastated family of a ex-cop battered to death with his own truncheon are fighting to have his body dug up to stop his killer being buried beside him.
Mike Mosey was beaten to death at his home near Forth, Lanarkshire, in August 2006 after being attacked with his treasured former police baton. His killer, John Mackie, was convicted of the 58-year-old’s murder at the High Court in Glasgow in 2007 and ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years behind bars before being eligible for parole – which was later reduced to 13 years on appeal.
Now, almost two decades after the brutal killing that shattered their family, Mike’s children have been plunged into fresh anguish after Mackie died in custody last month and is set to be buried in the same cemetery as their father. Mackie’s parents are already buried there, within sight of Mike’s grave, and there is currently nothing in place preventing the evil brute joining them.
View 6 ImagesMike Mosey died in 2006(Image: HANDOUT)
Faced with that possibility, Mike’s children have launched a fundraising appeal in a desperate bid to exhume his remains and lay him to rest elsewhere. Daughter Rachel Godier, 47, said the situation has left them heartbroken.
She said: “Dad’s murderer died in custody and we were informed that there was nothing in the current arrangements to prevent him from being buried or for his ashes to be scattered in the same cemetery as our dad.”
“We can’t bear the thought of our dad resting in the same cemetery as the murderer or his family.
“Visiting him already hurts and being constantly reminded of what happened and who caused it, makes it even harder.”
View 6 ImagesMike’s daughters Carla (left) and Rachel outside the Scottish Parliament in 2018(Image: Euan Cherry/WENN)
The family have already begun looking into the legal process of applying for permission to raise Mike’s remains, but first need a Sheriff Court Warrant to Disinter and Re-inter to be granted before any work can begin.
Once the application is lodged, it could take up to six weeks for a hearing, with the entire process expected to taking around three months in total.
Only when granted, will they be able to take the court order to the local council and begin arrangements to move Mike to a new resting place. Despite contacting specialist solicitors, charities and victim support organisations for help, the family say they have been unable to secure any financial assistance to start the process.
They estimate the exhumation and associated legal costs could top £25,000, with specialist fees expected to account for the largest share of the bill.
View 6 ImagesDaughters Rachel and Carla at Mike’s grave(Image: HANDOUT)
Rachel continued: “We can’t afford to move our dad away from the man who caused his death and we shouldn’t have to pay to move him from the situation.
“But there is nothing in place to support families going through something like this.”
“Hopefully, with the GoFundMe, we can raise enough where we can start appointing solicitors to get the ball rolling.
“We don’t want to visit our dad’s grave while constantly encountering the family of the person who killed him.
“We mean no harm to them, they’re grieving too, but so are we, and we need space to mourn without being retraumatised at every visit.”
So far, the family’s online fundraiser has raised just £15. Rachel admitted the latest twist had reopened wounds and says they cannot bear the thought of visiting Mike’s grave with the constant reminder of the man who took their dad’s life.
View 6 ImagesMike’s grave(Image: HANDOUT)
She said: “It’s been so difficult dealing with this over the years and this just seems to be another one of the many terrible things that keeps happening to us. It has definitely opened old wounds.
“We have no wish to dictate where anyone chooses to bury or scatter the ashes of their loved ones.
“For our own peace, the best option is to remove our dad from this current situation.
“We are a low-key family but this is the last issue we should have to face.
“We need help and this fundraiser is our last option.”
During John Mackie’s trial at the High Court in Glasgow in 2007, it was heard that Mike Mosey knew his killer before his death at his home in August the previous year. His son, Daniel Mosey, discovered his father lying on his face and covered in blood after Mackie bludgeoned him with a signed truncheon gifted to the loving dad by fellow officers during his time with the police.
Upon asking who, “done this to you?”, Mike replied with Mackie’s name. He repeated this to Rachel over the phone. Speaking in court, Daniel said: “For the second time he named Mackie. Dad never spoke again, but thankfully his dying words helped to convict this evil man.”
Mike Mosey suffered a fractured skull and horrific brain injuries. He was in a coma on a life support machine for nine days before he died with his family at his bedside.
View 6 ImagesMichael Mosey died in hospital(Image: HANDOUT)
In 2018, Mike’s family were told Mackie would not be released, only to receive another letter weeks later confirming he had been approved for temporary release.
The notification arrived on the anniversary of Mike’s murder. The case prompted then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to describe what had happened to the family as “unacceptable” amid calls grew for greater rights and protections for victims and their relatives.
Mackie was jailed again in 2022 after breaching parole conditions following his release. He died in prison in June 2026.
To donate to the GoFundMe, visit their page here.
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