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Man convicted of 'brutal' murder in Fife village

Police Scotland Henry White wearing a black top and glasses. He is hugging a brown and black dog in a bedroom.Police Scotland
Henry White was found fatally injured at a property in Oakley

A 36-year-old man has been convicted of murdering a man in a "brutal and prolonged assault" in a village in Fife.

Christopher Brown attacked Henry White, 57, in at a house in Oakley on 21 March last year. He repeatedly punched and kicked him before dragging him outside and abandoning him the next morning.

Emergency services were called but Mr White was found fatally wounded with multiple rib fractures, a collapsed lung and other injuries.

Brown denied murder, but was convicted by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh.

An offer to plead guilty to the lesser offence of culpable homicide was rejected by prosecutors.

Judge Lady Hood said it had been "a distressing and complex case".

The court heard how Brown was having a drink at the home of his then-girlfriend Leanne McKenzie when Mr White arrived at the house that evening.

Ms McKenzie, 30, said Brown had gone for a bath and when he returned, he grabbed Mr White and said they were talking about him.

She said Brown elbowed the older man in the face "pretty hard" and Mr White was knocked unconscious.

When he became conscious again, she asked him to go home.

But she said the situation got worse and Mr White was hit again and fell to the floor.

Police Scotland A poor quality police custody picture of Christopher Brown, who has short ginger hair and is wearing a grey top.Police Scotland
Christopher Brown was found guilty of murder at the High Court in Edinburgh

Advocate depute Michelle Brannagan said Mr White was subjected to a brutal and prolonged assault and lost his life as a direct result.

The prosecutor added: "Henry White was knocked unconscious not once, not twice but on three separate occasions that night.

"This was a murderous attack by Christopher Brown."

She also told the court that Brown had previous assault convictions.

Defence counsel Mark Stewart KC told the court that Brown was aware there was only one sentence that could be passed - life imprisonment.

Police Scotland Det Insp Kieran Marsh said Mr White's family had "shown great strength throughout this investigation".

He added: "Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to come to terms with what happened to him.

"Brown will now face the consequences of his deplorable actions."

Brown will be sentenced next month at the High Court in Inverness.