Man admits killing Fraserburgh dad with knife attack
A murder accused fought back tears as he told a jury that he killed 39-year-old Gary Clampett.
John Henderson, 47, described “striking out” twice with a knife at Mr Clampett during an incident at Fernie Place, Fraserburgh, last June.
He admitted being responsible for the dad's death and said he felt “worse than I have ever felt in my life”.
Henderson said he realised quickly afterwards that he had stabbed Mr Clampett when he saw blood on the knife, and that the incident has “ruined many lives”.
Henderson, who was giving evidence at the High Court in Glasgow, denies murdering Mr Clampett.
Henderson is on trial along with Gary Martin, 37, Joseph Martin, 40, Thomas Martin , 45, David Graham, 46, James Connor, 52, and Dean Leech, 25, who deny murdering Mr Clampett by hitting him with knives, a machete, a sword, a chain, a hammer, a crowbar, a wrench, a stick, bats, golf clubs, poles and a metal bat at Fernie Place, Fraserburgh, on June 18, last year.
The dad-of-two from Fraserburgh, said that he is disabled. He had to have his spine fused following a car crash 22 years ago and also suffers from epilepsy.
Jurors heard he went, armed with a knife, with Thomas Martin, Connor and Leech to collect Gary Martin from a nearby street in the early hours of the morning, after hearing about an alleged incident.
Defence counsel Keith Stewart QC asked Henderson why he took knife with him and he said he was “scared”.
He said after Gary Martin got in the car, they drove to Fernie Place and an incident unfolded.
Henderson described the scene in the street as “bedlam”.
The court heard he was chased by a woman who saw he had a knife, and while running away lashed out at Mr Clampett.
He claimed he was then chased by Mr Clampett's wife, Sharon, after she hit Gary Martin over the head with a pole.
Henderson said as he was being chased by her, he got close to Mr Clampett and Thomas Martin who were “struggling” together.
Mr Stewart asked how close he got to Mr Clampett and he replied: “I couldn't get passed him without touching him.”
Asked what he did, he replied: “Struck out with the knife.”
He told the court he got back in the car and realised he had stabbed Mr Clampett because there was blood on the knife.
Henderson said he heard later that morning that Mr Clampett was dead.
Mr Stewart asked: “Can you describe your attitude, learning of Mr Clampett's death?”
Henderson fought back tears as he replied: “There's a lot of things going through your mind.
“You've taken somebody's life.”
Mr Stewart continued: “How did you feel about that?”
Henderson answered: “Worse than I have ever felt in my life.”
He was then asked: “Had you intended to take Mr Clampett's life?” and replied: “No.”
Donald Findlay QC, representing Gary Martin, asked: “You accept you wielded the knife that brought about the death of Gary Clampett?”
Henderson replied: “I do.”
The court heard the cause of Mr Clampett's death was loss of blood caused by a stab wound to the side.
The seven deny the charges and the trial before judge Lord Beckett continues.