Glasgow man who tried to kill friend in Balloch jailed for over 4 years

A man who tried to murder his friend in Balloch, before sending pictures of him lying in a pool of blood, has been jailed for four and a half years.

31-year-old David Kennaway from Glasgow attacked Barry Weir, 38, at his home in the West Dunbartonshire town in April.

At the High Court in Glasgow judge Lady Stacey told Kennaway: “You represent a risk to members of the public. There is no explanation for what you did to your friend.

“What you did was very dangerous. Perhaps it is fortunate that Mr Weir was not more badly injured than he was.”

Lady Stacey ordered Kennaway to be monitored in the community for three years after his release from prison.

The court heard that when police arrived at Mr Weir's home Kennaway's hands, face, legs and clothing were covered in dried blood and there was blood on the walls, ceiling and floors.

Mr Weir was lying in a pool of blood with an injured arm, a wound to the back of his head and his face was swollen. Part of his right ear was lying on the floor beside him.

At the High Court in Glasgow Kennaway admitted attempting to murder Mr Weir, who had been a friend for 10 years.

He told police that Mr Weir had assaulted him and said: “I grabbed him and boom boom,” while making a head-butting motion.

Kennaway then added: “That's what happens when someone hits you, you defend yourself.”

Prosecutor Michael Meehan said: “The accused went to Mr Weir's home and they sat in the living room drinking and playing music. Mr Weir's next memory is waking up in hospital.”

At 10.50pm Mr Weir phoned his girlfriend Siobhan Campbell and she heard the two men singing and they appeared to be having a good time.

The court heard that later that night neighbours heard knocking and banging coming from the flat.

At 12.11am Kennaway sent a photograph to his friend Nicole O'Hanlon via Whatsapp messenger which showed Mr Weir lying covered in blood and severely injured.

Mr Meehan added: “The accused sent further picture messages showing Mr Weir in a pool of blood and the accused's own face covered in blood.”

Ms O'Hanlon tried unsuccessfully to establish where this was taking place and then contacted Kennaway's sister Stacey Kennaway and asked her to contact him.

Ms Kennaway managed to video chat with her brother asked him to check on Mr Weir, who she could hear grunting and breathing heavily in the background.

Kennaway then showed his sister a bite mark on his arm and claimed that Mr Weir had bitten him.

Ms Kennaway phoned an ambulance who contacted the police.

Mr Weir was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow suffering from bleeding on the brain, a dislocated right elbow, and facial injuries which required surgery.

He has been left with permanent scarring and numbness to his right cheek.

Solicitor advocate Billy Lavelle, defending, said: “There is a background of drug addiction and mental health issues. He has expressed his remorse. He had a difficult upbringing and started drinking seriously at first year in secondary school. He took drugs and alcohol that night and has no memory of what happened.”

Kennaway was sentenced via a video link from prison.

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