A court has heard a Caithness drug addict who murdered his friend was a champion surfer who could have pursued a lucrative career in the sport.
Paul Cannop, 25, stabbed 32-year-old Paul Fairweather following a confrontation at a house in Thurso on November 27 last year.
The High Court in Glasgow heard the murder took place just a day after the two men were seen arguing with each other over a drug debt.
Cannop had been awake for three days at the time of the confrontation and was high on a cocktail of crack cocaine, Xanax and Valium.
He inflicted a fatal blow to the left side of Mr Fairweather’s chest, which went through the sac round his heart and cut his pulmonary artery.
Cannop, from Thurso, claimed he acted in self-defence – but jurors refused to believe him and convicted him of murder.
At the High Court in Edinburgh today, he was told by judge Lord Woolman that he would serve at least 17 years for his crime.
His counsel, Ronnie Renucci QC, told the court that Cannop’s life had been ruined by his addiction to drugs.
He said: “Paul Cannop once had a very bright future in front of him. He had been a champion surfer and had a potential career in the sport.
Family pays tribute to father who died following Thurso attack
“He had been offered a sponsorship deal from a worldwide company. However, he didn’t pursue the opportunity as he turned to drugs.
“He became addicted to drugs and has spent most of his adult life in a situation where he has to deal with that addiction.”
Last month, a jury in Glasgow heard that at the time of the argument with Mr Fairweather, the victim 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.
Lord Woolman said: “Mr Fairweather was only 32. The loss of his life has had devastating consequences for his family.
“Their grief is palpable. Here are excerpts from their victim impact statements ‘words cannot begin to describe how I’m feeling’, ‘I’m heartbroken and have no idea how I’m going to get over his death’, ‘it’s caused a huge void in my life’ and ‘I hope one day to be able to look at my family and not see despair’.
“You have previously been convicted of violent offences and spent time in prison. All attempts to steer you along a different course have failed.
“The social worker reports that you have a limited insight and empathy and that you present a high risk of serious harm.
“Accordingly, rehabilitation and reintegration may prove difficult, although I note what Mr Renucci has said about your resolve to change your life.
“Balancing all these factors and exercising what clemency I can, I direct that you serve a minimum period of 17 years imprisonment.”
