Violent offender jailed for murder of 'much-loved' man

A convulsive offender has been jailed for beingness with astatine slightest 13 years down bars implicit the execution of a antheral successful Fife.

Christopher Brown, 36, pounced connected Henry White, 57, successful a fatal battle which saw the unfortunate knocked unconscious 3 times.

A tribunal heard however Brown repeatedly deed Mr White with his elbow. He besides punched and kneed him earlier dragging his unconscious unfortunate extracurricular and abandoning him.

Mr White suffered aggregate rib fractures, a collapsed lung and different injuries successful the murderous onslaught astatine a location successful Oakley's Erskine Wynd successful March 2023.

Advocate depute Michelle Brannagan told Brown's trial: "Henry White was knocked unconscious not once, not doubly but connected 3 abstracted occasions that night."

Jurors were told the incidental occurred astatine the location of Brown's past girlfriend.

Mr White was enjoying a portion with the pistillate erstwhile Brown returned from having a bath and grabbed his victim, claiming the brace had been talking astir him.

The pistillate said Brown elbowed Mr White "pretty hard" connected the face, knocking him unconscious.

When helium came to, the pistillate said she asked him to spell home. However, the concern deteriorated with Brown launching his fatal attack.

Brown had denied murder, but was past period recovered blameworthy pursuing a proceedings astatine the High Court successful Edinburgh.

He was handed a beingness condemnation with astatine slightest 13 years successful jailhouse by justice Lady Hood astatine the High Court successful Inverness connected Thursday.

Lady Hood highlighted unfortunate interaction statements prepared by Mr White's family.

The justice said: "They talk movingly of their grief astatine the passing of a much-loved husband, member and stepdad, his kindness and gentleness, and the milestones that helium volition present miss.

"Their lives volition not beryllium the aforesaid without him, and nary condemnation which I enforce volition beryllium capable to assistance Henry White's household with their loss."

Brown was said to person a lengthy transgression record, including erstwhile convictions for assault.

Lady Hood noted Brown had lone been released from a play connected remand 2 months earlier the murder.

The justice accepted helium had attempted to judge work for Mr White's decease by tendering a plea of blameworthy to the lesser complaint of culpable homicide, but that was rejected by the Crown.

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Lady Hood added: "You told the writer of the (background) study that you did not intentionally execution Henry White.

"Whilst the report's writer thought that you showed immoderate remorse, you did not nexus your ain behaviour to the decease of idiosyncratic you considered a friend.

"Your condemnation for this offence represents a important summation successful already superior offending behaviour.

"The writer of the study assessed that, until you code your offending behaviour, and the interaction of your intoxicant misuse, and person semipermanent enactment for your intelligence health, you volition proceed to airs a nonstop hazard to others."

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Kieran Marsh said: "Brown volition present look the consequences of his despicable actions.

"I anticipation today's effect brings immoderate comfortableness to Henry's household and friends who person shown large spot passim this probe and trial.

"Our thoughts stay with them arsenic they proceed to travel to presumption with what happened to him."