Man jailed for stabbing friend to death with golf club

A man who murdered his friend by stabbing him through the heart with a broken golf club has been jailed for 18 years.

Ruaridh Levey, 41, attacked Craig McNaught, 49, at his home in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire in March last year.

The killer went on to take photos of Mr McNaught when he was badly beaten.

Levey claimed he had been acting in self defence but was convicted of the murder after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Jailing him, Lord Ericht told Levey: "You stabbed Craig McNaught in the back with a broken golf club shaft which pierced his right lung and heart.

"The jury rejected self-defence. You committed a brutal murder."

The men had known each other for around 11 years and lived near each other in the town.

On the day of the murder, they ended up at Levey's home and played Xbox games, listened to music, and watched YouTube and a WWE wrestling event.

In his evidence, Levey said Mr McNaught fell asleep while he sat watching TV.

He claimed his friend woke up, suddenly grabbed him and choked him before "whacking" a golf club off the floor and breaking it.

Levey further claimed his friend armed himself with another weapon.

He added: "My head was spinning. I thought I was going to die."

Levey told jurors he then picked up the shaft of the broken club to protect himself.

He claimed he must have then stabbed his friend with it during the confrontation, but not deliberately.

Levey called an ambulance two hours later, after he had taken photos of Mr McNaught.

He denied causing Mr McNaught's other injuries to his face and head with the club while it was still intact.

Levey said he was "traumatised" and claimed he did not remember causing the fatal wound.

But prosecutors dismissed Levey's suggestion that he was defending himself.

Advocate depute Alan Parfery: asked: "At the time, you took the photos to boast of what you had done?"

Levey replied: "Comes across that way."

Mr Parfery said Levey was "triumphant" that he had "won the fight".

Lord Ericht jailed Levey for life and ordered that he serve a minimum of 18 years for the murder.