Paisley man jailed for killing a man in a knife attack
William McCann, who has six previous convictions for assault, killed James McFall, 30, at a flat in Argyle Street last April
A violent man who knifed a father-of-one to death was jailed for nine years. William McCann, who has six previous convictions for assault, killed James McFall, 30, at a flat in Argyle Street, Paisley in Renfrewshire last April. He stabbed Mr McFall after he, along with a pal, forced their way into the house.
Mr McFall was armed with a bottle and his friend was alleged to have had a knife, but denied this. McCann, who was in a bedroom watching a DVD, picked up a knife and stabbed Mr McFall once in the chest. The wound went through the sac round Mr McFall's heart and cut two main blood vessels. He bled to death within a short time.
Jailing McCann judge Lord Kinclaven told him: “You acted under provocation. You struck Mr McFall once in the chest with a knife. Mr McFall and a friend had entered the flat in possession of weapons. You assaulted Mr McFall and were responsible for his death. Mr McFall's mother is devastated by her loss.”
Lord Kinclaven ordered McCann to be monitored in the community for two years after his release from jail.
Defence QC Thomas Ross said: “That night Mr McCann was not looking for trouble. He was in a bedroom with a woman friend watching a DVD when two men burst in.”
Thirty-seven-year-old McCann went on trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of Mr McFall's murder. But, after several days of evidence, his QC Mr Ross said he was willing to now pled guilty to the reduced charge of culpable homicide.
The court heard McCann was acting under provocation when he stabbed Mr McFall once. McCann has a lengthy criminal past dating back to the mid-1990s.
Prosecutor Paul Kearney said: “The record is predominantly for offences of dishonesty and breaches of court orders, but also inclused six convictions for assault.”
The knife used in the attack had McCann's DNA on the handle, as well as blood from Mr McFall on the blade.
McCann faced other charges including attempted murder and assault, but prosecutors accepted his not guilty pleas to those.