A boxer who inflicted “grotesque accidents” on his neighbour by breaking each bone within the man’s face earlier than stabbing him to loss of life has been given a life sentence.
Shane Younger, 22, struck Richard Marshall 40 instances at his flat in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, on March 31, 2021.
The Excessive Court docket in Glasgow heard how Younger repeatedly punched and kicked Mr Marshall to the top and physique inflicting a fracture to each bone in his face.
He then went on to arm himself with what was believed to be a screwdriver earlier than plunging the weapon into Mr Marshall’s physique.
Younger then locked his bruised and bloodied sufferer within the flat and fled the scene - his actions delayed the response of emergency service staff who tried to avoid wasting Mr Marshall’s life.
A jury convicted Younger of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, of homicide. And on Thursday, Younger noticed proceedings on the Excessive Court docket in Edinburgh through video hyperlink from jail the place he had been positioned on remand.
Decide Lord Younger advised the callous killer - who had plans to turn out to be an expert boxer previous to his crime - that he’d spend a minimal of 18 years behind bars.
Passing sentence, Lord Younger - who had moments earlier heard a submission from defence lawyer Brian McConnachie KC - stated: “You've gotten been discovered responsible of the homicide of Richard Marshall. This was a very horrific assault.
“You inflicted horrific accidents on Mr Marshall - you fractured each bone in his face. You left him mendacity near loss of life in a room and also you locked the door and that hampered the response of the emergency companies.
“I've taken under consideration every thing which your counsel Mr McConnachie has stated in your behalf. Nevertheless, the sentence of the court docket is fastened at life imprisonment. I'll repair the punishment half for 18 years.”
At proceedings earlier this yr, a jury on the Excessive Court docket in Glasgow heard prosecutor Greg Farrell inform them that Younger’s motive for the assault may have arisen from a disagreement between the pair about noise.
The court docket heard that Mr Marshall had tried to confront Younger at his flat months earlier and he known as the police. Mr Marshall's mom Betty advised the jury in her proof that she was additionally conscious of a dispute about music.
She acknowledged she was to buy groceries together with her son on the day of his homicide. Mrs Marshall claimed that her son had initially got here out to see her in her automobile earlier than heading again inside to get modified.
However she stated she was alarmed as she noticed a person working from the constructing and he or she went to research. A 999 name was made and entry was later compelled.
Officers discovered Mr Marshall in a pool of blood and was nonetheless respiratory nevertheless life was pronounced extinct after medics labored on him for 40 minutes.
Younger advised the jury in his proof that Mr Marshall had got here to his door with a knife and that he suffered a hand harm making an attempt to fend him off.
Younger claimed he was initially hit with a lamp earlier than a battle came about between the pair. Younger acknowledged he “feared” for his life" and used to his "boxing coaching” to punch him twice.
He stated Mr Marshall fell and hit his head in opposition to objects. Younger then claimed it was Mr Marshall who picked up the screwdriver and tried to assault him with it however was capable of disarm him.
On Thursday, on the Excessive Court docket in Edinburgh, the court docket heard how social staff who had interviewed Younger for a report discovered that he had a cheerful childhood and likewise had plans to hitch the military.
The court docket additionally heard that hew was a primary offender and Mr McConnachie stated his shopper had “acted out of character” in the course of the incident.
The King’s Counsel additionally advised Lord Younger that he ought to think about sentencing pointers for folks aged underneath 25. These official pointers state that younger accused folks ought to obtain sentences targeted on their rehabilitation attributable to an absence of maturity.
Mr McConnachie additionally stated that his shopper needed to pursue a profession as an expert boxer and that he realised the impression that Mr Marshall’s loss of life has had on his household.
He added: “Even though this was a catastrophic offence, it was nonetheless his first offence Within the circumstances, Mr Younger is worried by the circumstances through which the household of the deceased discover themselves in.
“He realises that the household of the deceased discover themselves in their very own life sentence within the sense that they've misplaced their son and liked one.
“These are a set of circumstances through which resulted in Mr Younger appearing completely out of character.”
Nevertheless, Lord Younger advised the accused that the one sentence accessible to court docket was life imprisonment as members of Mr Marshall’s household sat in court docket.
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