A electrician who murdered his friend in a row over money has been jailed for at least 14 years.
Gary Crossan had a “complete disregard” for Malcolm Wright’s life when he punched, kicked and stamped on him – before taunting him as he lay on the ground.
Murder accused “devastated” after punching friend so hard he died
He then left his friend of 10 years lying injured for 12 hours before calling for an ambulance. The Army veteran died in hospital five days later.
Crossan, 31, was found guilty after a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen, where he had claimed to the jury he was acting in self-defence.
But yesterday, judge Lord Matthews said it was clear to him that the motive had purely been financial.
Sentencing him to life, with a minimum term of 14 years, at the High Court in Glasgow, the judge said: “On the night in question, the evidence disclosed that the two of you had again been drinking heavily before going back to the house which you were renting. You accepted that you then punched Mr Wright and that you were responsible for his death but the jury found that you inflicted further blunt trauma on him in an attack which they categorised as murder, rather than culpable homicide.
“Nothing I can say will assuage the grief felt by Mr Wright’s family. Whatever happened and whatever the mechanism of death, he was murdered.
“The fact that drink was taken is no excuse, but it explains the background. The motive for the assault, in so far as it was possible to discern one, may have been financial, the phone footage showing you demanding money from Mr Wright and his appearing to acknowledge that he owed it to you.”
Crossan and Mr Wright moved to Peterhead from Berkshire last September, looking for a change of scene.
But Mr Wright struggled to pay the rent and was kicked out of the house he and Crossan were sharing on Peter Buchan Drive. He obtained homeless accommodation through Aberdeenshire Council, but was reunited with Crossan in January.
On the night the 56-year-old was attacked, the pair went drinking in a pub before heading back to the house. Once there, Crossan lost his temper and began demanding money owed for rent and bills.
The court was shown footage of Crossan taunting Mr Wright while he lay on the floor, unable to get up, on January 26. He was also heard shouting at him repeatedly “when am I going to get my money?” and urged him to smile for a photograph.
But Crossan told the jury he had only hit Mr Wright as he thought he was going to lash out first, and was “devastated” when he discovered his friend had died from brain injuries – insisting he did not mean to kill him.
Last night, prosecutors welcomed the sentence for the “horrific” attack and said they hoped it would help Mr Wright’s family move on with their lives.
Nicky Patrick, procurator fiscal for homicide and major crime, said: “Crossan carried out a violent and sustained assault which left his victim in a coma and ultimately killed him.
“His actions demonstrated a complete disregard for human life towards somebody who had counted Crossan as a friend.”
Detective Inspector Stewart Drummond, who led the investigation, added: “Crossan launched a horrific attack on his victim, causing injuries so severe that he would spend his final days in intensive care and never recover.
“From the outset Crossan went to great lengths to cover up his involvement in Mr Wright’s death, however there is no doubt that he meant to cause him severe harm.
“I can only hope that this outcome, which I know may not provide Mr Wright’s family and friends with any closure, can help them begin to move on with their lives. Our thoughts are with them today.”
Mr Wright’s family previously described him as a “family man” who “liked to be liked”.
But his sister, Caroline Chandler, said they would not be celebrating Crossan’s conviction, as they recognised two families had been destroyed in one argument – and said they harboured no “ill feeling” towards him.
