Man jailed after stabbing 25-year-old to death in Fife with vampire skull sword

A man has been jailed for life after murdering an Edinburgh man he had just met by stabbing them with an ornamental vampire skull sword.

Adrian Hynd, 52, will serve a minimum of 18 years for killing Alex Forbes in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in an alcohol-fuelled "frenzied attack'' on January 2.

The 25-year-old from Edinburgh had gone back to Hynd's home with two other men to carry on drinking after meeting during a night-out.

By 3.45am the other men left, leaving Hynd alone with Mr Forbes.

At about 5am police were called to the flat in Victoria Road by Hynd, who claimed he had stabbed Mr Forbes in self-defence.

Mr Forbes' body was found on the living-room floor with the blade stuck in his chest.

In his sentencing statement released following the hearing, judge Lord Ericht said: "You invited various people you had just met back to your house after the pub.

"The next morning, Alexander Forbes lay dead on your living-room floor, your ornamental collector's sword embedded in his chest.

"The jury rejected self-defence. You committed a brutal, bloody murder.''

Detective Chief Inspector Keith Hardie, of Police Scotland's major investigation team, said: "Our enquiries established that Alex had been the victim of a frenzied attack and there is no doubt that Hynd, fuelled by alcohol, meant to cause Alex severe harm.

"We welcome this sentence and our condolences remain with Alex's family.''

Hynd was found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh on September 22 and sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow today.