Former Bus Driver Jailed For Six Years
A former bus driver who killed his best friend after he made a comment about his late mother has been jailed for six years.
A former bus driver who killed his best friend after he made a comment about his late mother has been jailed for six years.
William Jackson battered to death Walter Littlejohn at his flat in Govanhill, Glasgow last July.
The 51 year-old was awaiting sentence at the time for an earlier attack on Mr Littlejohn.
Jackson today returned to the High Court in Glasgow after pleading guilty to the culpable homicide of the 56 year-old.
A judge heard how Mr Littlejohn had made a "fairly neutral" remark about Jackson's mum which sparked the killer into a rage.
Lord Bannatyne told Jackson: "This appears to have been a completely senseless and irrational attack."
Jackson will also be supervised for a further three years on his release.
The court heard that Jackson was on bail at the time of the killing having assaulted Mr Littlejohn in July 2013.
Sentencing had been adjourned until December last year.
The death came to light on August 1 when Jackson called an ambulance claiming he had found Mr Littlejohn lying dead in a chair at his flat in the city's Jamieson Street.
A paramedic found Mr Littlejohn had passed away, but saw "nothing obviously suspicious".
Jackson told police that Mr Littlejohn had come to his door on August 1 already apparently injured.
He said he had later found his friend had stopped breathing and he had called for help.
Jackson denied at that time he had fought with Mr Littlejohn.
He instead claimed Mr Littlejohn had earlier been involved in a "handbags" fight with another person.
A post mortem found Mr Littlejohn had been assaulted.
He was found to have bleeding in the skull, rib fractures, injuries to his bowel and liver as well as bruising.
It was also found he had defensive-type injuries.
Jackson later changed his position with the police and admitted Mr Littlejohn had stayed at his flat between July 31 and August 1.
Officers then took a pair of trainers from Jackson's flat as they continued to probe the death.
One of them was found to have Mr Littlejohn's blood on it while the pattern on the sole matched bruising on the victim's chest.
A piece of the dead man's hearing aid was discovered in a bin and a pool of blood was seen under a couch.
It is thought Mr Littlejohn was beaten to death in Jackson's living room.
The court heard today that Jackson had considered Mr Littlejohn to be his "best friend" and was a "lovely man". Thomas Ross, defending, said Mr Littlejohn died having earlier made a "fairly neutral" comment about Jackson's late mother.
Jackson had previously endured a "difficult relationship" with his mum before her death.
Referring to the killing, Mr Ross added: "The overwhelming emotion he (Jackson) has is one of utter remorse."