A convicted killer has been jailed for life for the apparently motiveless murder of a Paisley dad in his own home.
Andrew McLeod, 58, was locked up for a minimum 20 years after being found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow.
John Dalziel was battered and his throat slashed with a broken plate at the house in Whitesbridge Avenue on May 6, 2021 – said to be the day of his birthday.
A fire was also started in the home of the 47-year-old, who was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow but died a short time later.
McLeod had denied the accusation at the trial. However, it emerged after the verdict that he already had a conviction for culpable homicide in 2005.
He was jailed for nine years then for killing Scott McMinn in Paisley before dumping his body in a wheelie bin at a former gas works pit. McLeod also had other high court convictions.
On Thursday, Lord Arthurson told the thug: “By this appalling crime, you have left Mr Dalziel’s young daughter without her beloved father. A consequence you should very much be aware of as you are sentenced today.
“As it was put [during the trial], Mr Dalziel was found lying slaughtered in his own living room.”
John Thomas, 39, had also been accused of murder, but a not proven verdict was returned. Prosecutor Greg Farrell told jurors how the attack was “spontaneous”.
In his closing speech, he also said: “There is no discernible reason as to why this happened to John Dalziel. But he was slashed and beaten to death. It is not necessary to determine a motive.”
A neighbour of Mr Dalziel’s earlier recalled how he had been alerted to the sound of a smoke alarm that night. Robert Carmichael went out to investigate and saw a blaze in the victim’s home.
Peering in a window, he could see a stricken Mr Dalziel on the floor in a “pool of blood” and another man – McLeod – sitting on the couch.
Mr Carmichael said: “At that point, John Thomas came out the side of the house and I asked what happened. I do not know if he heard me or was not there fully himself.”
Andrew Cunningham – another neighbour – recalled racing into the living room and was told by the man on the couch: “F*** off, p****.”
Mr Cunningham helped put out the flames while being sworn at up to 10 times. The broken plate used to attack Mr Dalziel was described as an “improvised weapon”. The victim also suffered a brain injury as a result of the violence.
Following the verdict, Detective Chief Inspector Lynsey Watters, from Police Scotland’s major investigation team, said: “This was a callous attack and our thoughts remain with Mr Dalziel’s family and we hope that the conviction brings them some kind of closure.
“This was a needless death and our enquiries found that Mr Dalziel had been left on the floor after being seriously assaulted, so badly that he died a short time later in hospital.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in this long investigation and I hope this sends a clear message that violence has no place in our society and will not be tolerated.”
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