The family of a murdered Fraserburgh dad have said “no punishment” will ever be enough for the six men who killed him.
Gary Clampett died last summer, after being attacked in the street with an arsenal of “deadly weapons” including a machete, sword, chain and a hammer.
Yesterday, John Henderson, 47, Gary Martin, 37, Thomas Martin, 45, Dean Leech, 25 and James Connor, 53 were all convicted of his murder.
Joseph Martin, 40, was found guilty of the lesser charge of culpable homicide while David Graham, 46, walked free from court after the jury returned a not proven verdict.
In total, the six convicted will spend almost 100 years in prison before they are eligible for release.
Mr Clampett bled to death after he was stabbed twice in the chest by Henderson after a brawl in front of his home on Fernie Place.
Henderson, Leech, Gary Martin and Thomas Martin and Connor went to the Clampetts’ property at about 4am on June 18, armed knives, a machete, sword, a chain, a hammer, bats, golf clubs and poles.
Joseph Martin joined them at the scene.
During the trial at the High Court in Glasgow, the jury heard the violence was a result of a long-running feud the Clampetts and the Martins.
In a statement released following the verdict, Mr Clampett’s family – which includes his wife, children and parents – said: “As a family we have sat through weeks of harrowing evidence which will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Gary didn’t deserve to die that night and especially in the horrendous, brutal way it happened.
“Gary was a loving and protective father and husband who was completely committed to his family and we will always cherish the time we had together. These men will never appreciate just how much they have ripped our family apart and no punishment will ever be enough for robbing us of him.”
Throughout the trial, defence lawyers argued that the men had not gone to Fernie Place to kill Mr Clampett and his death had been the result of Henderson “striking out” while being chased.
During sentencing, judge Lord Beckett acknowledged that Henderson was the man who stabbed Mr Clampett, but said: “He could not have done this without the group overpowering Mr Clampett.
Henderson was jailed for a minimum of 18 years, Gary Martin 20 years, Thomas Martin 16 years, Connor 14 years and 11 months, and Dean Leech to 16 years and nine months.
Joseph Martin was jailed for 12 years.
Last night police paid tribute to Mr Clampetts’ family and also thanked the public for their assistance throughout the inquiry.
Detective Inspector Gary Winter who led the investigation, said: “Armed with an array of deadly weapons including a bat, crowbar, chain, knives and a sword, these men all acting together launched a sickening attack on Mr Clampett, inflicting fatal injuries.”
And Nicky Patrick, procurator fiscal for homicide and major crime, said: “This was an attack carried out with absolute disregard for human life by a group who armed themselves with deadly weapons and launched a vicious and ultimately fatal assault.”
