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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| City man admits Big Issue murder | City man admits Big Issue murder |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man knifed a Big Issue seller to death in Dundee because he believed he had betrayed him over money to buy drugs, a court has been told. | A man knifed a Big Issue seller to death in Dundee because he believed he had betrayed him over money to buy drugs, a court has been told. |
| Paul Clark, 33, has admitted murdering Patrick McDade at his victim's home in Brown Constable Street on 17 January. | Paul Clark, 33, has admitted murdering Patrick McDade at his victim's home in Brown Constable Street on 17 January. |
| Clark stabbed his friend 24 times and Mr McDade's body was discovered almost a week later by his father. | Clark stabbed his friend 24 times and Mr McDade's body was discovered almost a week later by his father. |
| Clark, who was living in homeless accommodation at the time of the murder, will be sentenced next month. | Clark, who was living in homeless accommodation at the time of the murder, will be sentenced next month. |
| Advocate depute Iain McSporran told the High Court in Edinburgh that both the murderer and his victim used heroin and sold the Big Issue magazine on the streets of Dundee "partly to fund their addictions". | Advocate depute Iain McSporran told the High Court in Edinburgh that both the murderer and his victim used heroin and sold the Big Issue magazine on the streets of Dundee "partly to fund their addictions". |
| The court heard that Clark had given Mr McDade money to buy them both heroin. | The court heard that Clark had given Mr McDade money to buy them both heroin. |
| However, Mr McDade later told Clark that he had passed the money to someone else to get the drugs, but that person had run off with the cash. | However, Mr McDade later told Clark that he had passed the money to someone else to get the drugs, but that person had run off with the cash. |
| Clark later began to suspect Mr McDade of telling lies and stabbed his friend to death. | Clark later began to suspect Mr McDade of telling lies and stabbed his friend to death. |
| Even at this stage this is one of the saddest tales I have heard Lord Brailsford | Even at this stage this is one of the saddest tales I have heard Lord Brailsford |
| While being questioned by police he eventually broke down and confessed. | While being questioned by police he eventually broke down and confessed. |
| He told officers: "The next minute I realised what I had done and I sat there 'til the next day and I was going to come along the next day but I was just scared." | He told officers: "The next minute I realised what I had done and I sat there 'til the next day and I was going to come along the next day but I was just scared." |
| The court heard that during the confession Clark went on to say that he had placed a blanket over his dead friend because he was scared to look at him. | The court heard that during the confession Clark went on to say that he had placed a blanket over his dead friend because he was scared to look at him. |
| "He stated that he couldn't believe what he'd done. He had been angry at himself for what he had done and because of the deceased's apparent betrayal of his trust over the money," said Mr McSporran. | "He stated that he couldn't believe what he'd done. He had been angry at himself for what he had done and because of the deceased's apparent betrayal of his trust over the money," said Mr McSporran. |
| A post mortem found that one of the wounds suffered by Mr McDade had entered the heart. An artery and vein in his neck were also severed. | A post mortem found that one of the wounds suffered by Mr McDade had entered the heart. An artery and vein in his neck were also severed. |
| A pathologist who examined him said the continued infliction of injuries after the victim was stabbed in the back amounted to "overkill". | A pathologist who examined him said the continued infliction of injuries after the victim was stabbed in the back amounted to "overkill". |
| Clark later helped police find the murder weapon, a large blood-stained kitchen knife, in Camperdown Park. | |
| 'Likeable person' | |
| The judge, Lord Brailsford, told Clark: "I have to say even at this stage this is one of the saddest tales I have heard." | The judge, Lord Brailsford, told Clark: "I have to say even at this stage this is one of the saddest tales I have heard." |
| "It is a tragedy for the victim obviously and the victim's family but also for you, all caused by the horror of heroin." | "It is a tragedy for the victim obviously and the victim's family but also for you, all caused by the horror of heroin." |
| Supt Willie Semple, who led the investigation, said: ''I hope that Clark's plea of guilty and the sentence he receives later for what was an extremely violent crime, will help bring a degree of closure for Paddy's family. Our thoughts are with them at this time. | |
| "By all accounts Paddy was a popular and likeable person, who was regarded fondly by all who met him." | |
| He added that the investigation into Mr McDade's death was difficult as he had lain undiscovered in his flat for a number of days. | |
| ''The fact we successfully pieced together what happened to Paddy in his final hours is testimony to the many officers who worked on this case and also to members of the public who came forward and offered their assistance to the investigation," he said. |