Two men jailed for life after murdering dad of four at Perthshire flat

Two men who murdered a dad of four by repeatedly stabbing him and hitting him with a bat have been jailed for life.

Murray Fortheringham, who’s 36, and Lee Winters, 37, attacked John Donnachy at a house in Hazel Court in Alyth, Perthshire on March 3 2018.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the pair stabbed defenceless Mr Donnachy at least 13 times.

They then left his body lying on the floor.

On Thursday, jurors found Fotheringham, a prisoner of HMP Perth and Winters, a prisoner of HMP Edinburgh, guilty of murder.

Passing sentence, Judge Lord Beckett said: “This was an appalling crime.”

He added: “You armed yourselves with weapons including at least one knife and a bat - probably a baseball bat - and set about Mr Donnachy who was intoxicated and had no chance of defending himself.

“Most of the significant injuries were clustered around the upper left side of the torso which strongly suggests an intention to kill."

Police forensic officers later found bloodstains containing the palm prints of both accused.

He ordered that Fotheringham should serve at least 19 years in prison whilst his accomplice should serve at least 16 years in custody.

Pathologist David Sadler told the Court that he had noted 15 stab wounds to Mr Donnachy body and various blunt force injuries.

He said three of the wounds were caused by one knife blow which went through the arm and entered the chest cavity.

The court heard that a further wound which severed a major artery on its own could have led to the death.