Man who killed friend jailed for eight years

A former music student who stabbed a friend to death has been jailed for eight years.

Francis McConnachie claimed he was acting in self defence when he attacked Thomas O'Rourke, 21, in their hometown of Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, on 24 February 2023.

The 36-year-old denied murdering Mr O'Rourke, who was stabbed with a knife four times.

He was previously tried at the High Court in Glasgow and convicted of the reduced charge of culpable homicide while acting under provocation.

Jurors heard the men were in McConnachie's home, where the atmosphere as initially "good" between them.

However, they then argued and McConnachie ordered his friend to leave.

He claimed Mr O'Rourke threatened him and his brother before he left.

McConnachie told the court: "I basically went after him."

They had a "stand-up fight" in the street before McConnachie was pulled away. Both then returned to their homes.

However, McConnachie said he went back when he heard Mr O'Rourke outside shouting and claimed he was armed with a knife.

McConnachie said he told him: "You do not stab your pals."

The killer stated he was "in disbelief", but he managed to grab hold of Mr O'Rourke.

There was a "big struggle" with both men on the ground while McConnachie tried to disarm his friend, he claimed.

Mr O'Rourke was then fatally stabbed, but McConnachie said: "I do not know how it happened."

In defence, Richard Goddard KC said the killing happened after an initial "relatively minor" altercation between the pair.

He said McConnachie had "always accepted responsibility" for the death and had shown remorse for what happened.

Sentencing, judge Lord Arthurson said he had read emotional impact statements from those close to the victim.

The judge told McConnachie: "You should be under no illusion of the scale of the dreadful loss sustained by Mr O'Rourke's family occasioned by your fatal attack."