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Man guilty of city knife murder | Man guilty of city knife murder |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man has been found guilty of murder after stabbing another man through the heart in Aberdeen. | A man has been found guilty of murder after stabbing another man through the heart in Aberdeen. |
John Anderson, 29, denied murdering William Reeve, 41, who died after a fight in February. He had claimed he was acting in self defence. | |
Mr Reeve died from a single knife wound which pierced his heart. | Mr Reeve died from a single knife wound which pierced his heart. |
The jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict at the High Court in Edinburgh. Grampian Police said it proved people should not carry knives. | The jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict at the High Court in Edinburgh. Grampian Police said it proved people should not carry knives. |
Mr Reeve and friend James Graham, 42, had confronted Anderson and his brother George, accusing them of an earlier attack on Mr Reeve's disabled teenage son which followed a row in a nearby children's swing park. | Mr Reeve and friend James Graham, 42, had confronted Anderson and his brother George, accusing them of an earlier attack on Mr Reeve's disabled teenage son which followed a row in a nearby children's swing park. |
The court heard Mr Graham was armed with a meat cleaver as Mr Reeve punched George Anderson, 33, and knocked him through a hedge. Anderson went to the family home and returned to the scene with a knife or knives. A few seconds of madness can lead to tragedy for so many people Insp Andy ImrayGrampian Police | |
Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC, prosecuting, asked jurors to find Anderson guilty of murder. | Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC, prosecuting, asked jurors to find Anderson guilty of murder. |
He said the fight was over when Mr Anderson rushed past the man with the meat cleaver to stab his unarmed companion. | He said the fight was over when Mr Anderson rushed past the man with the meat cleaver to stab his unarmed companion. |
Defence QC Edgar Prais said it was a tragedy that a man had died because of a silly argument between people who should have known better. | Defence QC Edgar Prais said it was a tragedy that a man had died because of a silly argument between people who should have known better. |
'Take comfort' | |
Mr Prais said: "If you are going to convict, it cannot be murder. It can only, at top whack, be culpable homicide as a result of provocation by violence." | Mr Prais said: "If you are going to convict, it cannot be murder. It can only, at top whack, be culpable homicide as a result of provocation by violence." |
However, he urged jurors to acquit Anderson altogether. | However, he urged jurors to acquit Anderson altogether. |
The senior investigating officer, Insp Andy Imray of Grampian Police, said: "This has been a tragic set of circumstances for everyone concerned and I am sure the family will take comfort from the verdict. | |
"If ever there is an argument for not carrying knives, this is it. In no circumstances should people carry knives - even if they do not set out with murderous intent. A few seconds of madness can lead to tragedy for so many people. | |
"There is never an excuse for carrying a knife. Our thoughts continue to be with the family of William Reeve." |