A Caithness man who killed a friend in a row over a £40 debt is facing a life sentence.
Twenty-five-year-old Paul Cannop, from Thurso, stabbed 32-year-old Paul Fairweather in the left side of his chest.
The fatal blow went through the sac round Mr Fairweather’s heart and cut his pulmonary artery.
Connop claimed that Mr Fairweather came at him with a knife and he stabbed him in self-defence in the ensuing struggle.
But the jury did not believe him and convicted him of murdering Mr Fairweather by repeatedly stabbing him on the body with a knife on November 27, last year, in Holborn Avenue, Thurso.
The High Court in Glasgow heard yesterday that the two men had quarrelled the previous day about a £40 drug debt Cannop claimed he was owed by Mr Fairweather.
At that time there had been a fist fight and Mr Fairweather had a tooth knocked out.
Hours later Cannop stabbed Mr Fairweather to death. At the time Mr Fairweather was on the phone to his sister.
She heard Cannop tell Mr Fairweather he owed him £40 and then heard a scuffle.
Judge Lord Woolman deferred sentence on Cannop until next month at the High Court in Edinburgh.
He will fix the number of years Cannop must spend behind bars before being eligible for parole.
At the time of his death, Mr Fairweather’s family issued a statement through police.
It said: “Paul was a much-loved dad, son, grandson, brother, uncle and a friend to many.
“The family are absolutely devastated to have lost him.”
Detective Inspector Brian Geddes of the Major Investigation Team said: “A young man’s life was needlessly cut short and our thoughts remain with Paul Fairweather’s family during this difficult time.
“I hope the conviction provides some level of closure for them.
“I would also like to thank members of the local community in Thurso who assisted our enquiries at the time.”
Cannop is due to return to court in September for sentencing.
