Bloodbath maniac kills ex and neighbour then jumps from 12th floor balcony to his death
Killer attacked pair before leaping 130ft in Aberdeen
A MANIAC butchered his ex and her neighbour before he leapt 130ft to his death from a 12th-floor flat.
Booze-crazed Hugh Gallacher, 56, stabbed Tracy Gabriel, 40, and Keith Taylor, 43, in the Aberdeen high-rise.
He told Keith’s wife before his suicide: “They’re dead, I killed them.”
Linda Taylor, 36, raced to neighbour Tracy Gabriel’s flat when she heard screams for help.
She came face-to-face with blade maniac Hugh Gallacher who told her he slaughtered ex-lover Tracy and Keith.
The boozed-up killer — dubbed The Danger by locals — then leapt 130ft to his death from the 12th floor balcony as cops arrived in Tillydrone, Aberdeen.
A friend of Linda, who raised the alarm, said: “Hugh told her that they went for him so he killed them both.
“The police weren’t there to protect her but she still went inside and tried to help Keith and Tracy. She did her best but they were dead.”
Linda was last night said to be in “utter shock” following the bloodbath.
The pal added: “She burst into tears when I was talking to her. She can’t believe Keith is gone.”
The killings occurred during a drinking session in Tracy’s flat, next door to Linda and Keith, 43.
Gallacher had dated mum- of-four Tracy and was known as an “aggressive” drunk who feuded with Keith and Linda.
It was claimed he went looking for them a few weeks ago, armed with knives.
On Tuesday night, there were reports of music blaring from Tracy’s home in the hours running up to the tragedy.
A neighbour said: “It was benefits day so Hugh would have had a fair drink.
“He’s caused a few problems in the block after he’s had a few drinks — he really hated Keith and Linda.
“It looks like he’s attacked Keith and poor Tracy was caught up in it all. It’s so sad.”
After the alarm was raised at about 8.15pm police burst into the flat and exchanged a few words with Hugh before he flung himself off the veranda.
Bystanders rushed to help and he was given first aid for 20 minutes before he was pronounced dead.
A blue tent was erected over his body.
Horrified Agnieska Krawczyk said: “I saw the man fall and hit the ground next to me and my children.
“I could only cover my son’s eyes. I was shaking. I told my kids to run inside. They were asking what had happened.”
Another neighbour who also saw Gallacher plummet to his death added: “I looked up and saw a falling man.
“It was awful. The police came round later and asked lots of questions about him.”
She revealed Gallacher’s fifth floor flat was the scene of constant drunken bashes.
The resident said: “There was a lot of anti-social behaviour there caused by alcohol. We’d hear weird noises from inside.”
Toni Dey, 19, who lives nearby, said she heard frantic yells from the block.
The mum of two said: “I heard some girl screaming ‘help me, help me’, then about ten minutes after I heard loads of screaming and shouting.
“I didn’t call the police as I thought it was kids messing around, then I heard loads of police.” Tracy’s pal Shona Trowbridge paid tribute yesterday calling her “one of a kind”.
She wrote on Facebook: “You were a special person, I grew up with you, we had some good times and some absolutely funny ones but we did have some bad times also.
“But we did what was best for us all, we kept smiling and seen them through. RIP.”
Cops taped off the 12th floor and Linda was forced to move into temporary accommodation.
It’s thought she was allowed in to her flat briefly to grab some clothes and personal possessions.
Detectives went door to door in the block and forensic teams scoured Tracy’s flat and used a metal detector in grass outside in the hunt for clues.
Detective Chief Inspector Keith Hardie confirmed the horror is being treated as a murder suicide.
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He said: “We are not looking for anyone else in relation to these deaths. There is no wider threat to the community.
“After a few days it will become absolutely crystal clear what’s happened.”
Tracy’s dad Alex, 63, who lives in a nearby high-rise block, was too upset to comment yesterday.
Mum Isobel, 60, of Keith, Moray, was also too distressed.
Brother George, 37, also of the town, said: “It’s sad to hear. What’s the reason for her to get murdered?
“I haven’t spoken to my sister for about ten years.
“It’s a very complicated family. She’s the only real sister I have got.”
Keith’s family were also too upset to talk.
PARTIES 'ALL DAY AT MURDER FLAT'
SHOCKED neighbours said mum-of-four Tracy Gabriel had a “party flat” with an open-door policy for friends.
One said: “People could go for a drink at any time of day or night.
“Her daughter lived with her until a few weeks ago but she moved out because of the parties.
“Now it looks like the best move she ever made. She could have been killed too.”
Another local revealed: “Drink and drugs are a big problem here. Police are called out regularly but this is something completely different. Everyone is in shock.”
Local councillor Ross Grant, below, said: “My deepest, most heartfelt thoughts are with the loved ones of those no longer with us.”