2 men convicted of beating Paisley dad to death

Two men have been convicted of beating a 48-year-old dad-of-one to death after ambushing him outside his flat.

Stephen O'Donnell, 30, and Robert Muir, 30, murdered George Calvert by punching and kicking him and stamped on his head at Glen Street, Paisley, on March 19, 2019.

Mr Calvert died from a massive brain injury hours after the brutal attack. He had 63 injuries – 26 of them to his head and neck.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that at the time both men were on community payback orders – O'Donnell for drink driving and driving while disqualified and Muir for an assault with a bottle.

Prosecutor Graeme Jessop said: “They both had appointments for the community payback orders that morning – but were sent away.”

Both men then headed to O'Donnell's flat where they sat drinking and in the afternoon murdered Mr Calvert.

Judge Lady Rae told the pair: “This was a brutal killing of a defenceless man while you were both under the influence of drink. That is no excuse whatsoever.

“Both of you were on community payback orders. You were obviously not taking them very seriously.”

The High Court in Glasgow heard that O'Donnell, who was in a relationship with 19-year-old Kisteen Templeton, feared that Mr Calvert would tell her jealous ex-boyfriend Robert Cowan about them.

Before heading to Mr Calvert's flat O'Donnell told his friend Muir 'George saw me and her walking about and I wouldn't be surprised if he tells Robert Cowan.'

And Muir replied: “'He'll no be saying f all to any c,'” and added: “Don't worry. I'll back you 110 per cent”

Jurors were told the sound of the horrific beating and Mr Calvert whimpering was heard by people in neighbouring flats.

The pair left Mr Calvert dying outside his home and fled. They did nothing to help him.

Minutes afterwards O'Donnell boasted to Ms Templeton: “We've just done George in.”

O'Donnell , who lived in the same block of flats, tried to fool police by telling them he just had arrived home and found the street 'like a CSI parking lot.”

His accomplice Muir asked Ms Templeton to lie for them and say they were in O'Donnell's flat all day.

They were brought to justice because their clothes and shoes were covered in droplets of Mr Calvert's blood.

Muir's handprint in Mr Calvert's blood was found on a wall close to where Mr Calvert lay.

Prosecutor Graem Jessop said: “This was a concerted attack, a vicious attack and a sustained attack on a man who was ambushed at his front door as he came back home. It was unprovoked.”

Both will be jailed for life when they appear in court again next month.

Lady Rae deferred sentence until then for background reports. She will determine how long they must serve before being eligible for parole.

Both accused showed no emotion as the verdicts were returned.

They had both earlier offered pleas of guilty to the lesser charge of culpable homicide, but these were rejected.