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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Lanarkshire Live

Shocking CCTV footage shows Lanarkshire teenager murder stranger on birthday night out

Horrific CCTV footage has been released showing a Lanarkshire teenager brutally murder a man while out celebrating his 18th birthday.

Chilling footage shared by the Crown Office showed Brian McKillop, attacking James Britton while the 51-year-old was heading home in Rutherglen in October last year.

At the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, McKillop, now 19, was given a life sentence for the brutal and unprovoked attack.

He has been ordered to serve a minimum of 11 years and three months after pleading guilty to the murder and robbery of Mr Britton.

The CCTV compilation showed McKillop appearing agitated and angry as he arrived at Rutherglen train station at 11.48pm on October 20, 2021.

He could be seen kicking a bike before wandering around the area and dramatically gesturing at passers-by. The video then cuts to post-incident footage of McKillop from the Star Hand Car Wash at approximately 11.59pm.

McKillop is seen walking away from the direction of where Mr Britton was last seen, towards the forecourt of the car wash. Police can then be seen arriving at the scene.

CCTV images of Brian McKillop on the night of the killing (Crown Office)

The High Court in Glasgow previously heard that McKillop had spent that day with family and friends at a local pub celebrating his birthday before violently assaulting Mr Britton by repeatedly kicking him and stamping on his head - for a period of between five and six minutes - until he was unconscious.

He was spotted by passing motorists outside the car wash on Farmeloan Road in the town.

One of the motorists pulled over and phoned 999 before trying to help Mr Britton. She saw that his pockets had been turned out and a carrier bag, its contents and some coins were strewn on the pavement next to him.

James Britton, 51, was attacked while heading home in Rutherglen (Daily Record)

Ambulance crews and police officers arrived shortly after before officers arrested McKillop as he attempted to flee the scene.

When taken to the police station he was found to have Mr Britton’s prescription medication in his jacket pocket while blood was found on his shoes and jeans.

Mr Britton, known as Moose, was returning from visiting friends when he was attacked. He died of his injuries at Queen Elizabeth hospital on November 4 last year.

Speaking following the sentencing, Procurator Fiscal David Green, said: “This was a random and unprovoked attack on a stranger.

"An attack carried out with an appalling level of sustained violence.

“James Britton’s friends and family have suffered a devastating loss, and our thoughts are with them as they attempt to come to terms with what has happened.”

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