Man to spend at least 20 years in jail for Paisley murder

A man's been jailed for life for the apparently motiveless murder of a dad in his own home in Paisley.

58 year old Andrew McLeod has been locked up for a minimum 20 years after the brutal attack on John Dalziel in May 2021.

A fire was also started in the 47 year-old's home.

McLeod had denied the accusation at the trial.

But, it emerged after the verdict, he already had a conviction for culpable homicide in 2005.

McLeod also had other high court convictions.

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Arthurson told the thug: "By this appalling crime, you have left Mr Dalziel's young daughter without her beloved father.

"A consequence you should very much be aware of as you are sentenced today.

"As it was put (during the trial), Mr Dalziel was found lying slaughtered in his own living room."

John Thomas, 39, had also been accused of murder, but a not proven verdict was returned.

Prosecutor Greg Farrell told jurors how the attack was "spontaneous".

In his closing speech, he also said: "There is no discernible reason as to why this happened to John Dalziel.

"But, he was slashed and beaten to death. It is not necessary to determine a motive."

A neighbour of Mr Dalziel's earlier recalled how he had been alerted to the sound of a smoke alarm that night.

Robert Carmichael went out to investigate and saw a blaze in the victim's home.

Peering in a window, he could see a stricken Mr Dalziel on the floor in a "pool of blood" and another man - McLeod - sitting on the couch.

Mr Carmichael: "At that point, John Thomas came out the side of the house and I asked what happened.

"I do not know if he heard me or was not there fully himself."

Andrew Cunningham - another neighbour - recalled racing into the living room and was told by the man on the couch: "F* off, p**."

Mr Cunningham helped put out the flames while being sworn at up to 10 times.

The broken plate used to attack Mr Dalziel was described as an "improvised weapon".

The victim also suffered a brain injury as a result of the violence.

Detective Chief Inspector Lynsey Watters, from Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said:

“This was a callous attack and our thoughts remain with Mr Dalziel’s family and we hope that the conviction brings them some kind of closure.

“This was a needless death and our enquiries found that Mr Dalziel had been left on the floor after being seriously assaulted, so badly that he died a short time later in hospital.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in this long investigation and I hope this sends a clear message that violence has no place in our society and will not be tolerated.

“Police Scotland will continue to work alongside our partners at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal service to make sure that any perpetrators are brought to justice and removed from our communities.”

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