A man is facing jail after admitting stabbing his older brother to death after a row.
Jeffrey Forbes killed father-of-four Scott Forbes with a single knife wound to the body which cut a major artery.
Forbes, 40, later told police: "He assaulted me first. I never meant to do it."
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the death of the elder brother had been "devastating" for the victim's family.
Forbes was originally charged with murdering his 41-year-old brother on February 7 or 8 this year at his home in Aberdeen.
But on Monday the Crown today accepted his guilty plea to the reduced charge of culpable homicide.
Unemployed Forbes, of Tullos, Aberdeen, admitted assaulting his brother and stabbing him on the body with a knife and killing him.
The court heard that the pair were drinking together at Jeffrey Forbes’ home. But later the pair began arguing and Scott started smashing up pieces of his younger brother’s furniture.
The younger sibling made two 999 calls requesting a police presence at his home.
During the first call he said his brother Scott was at his home and was smashing his property. A voice in the background was heard saying: "I can't get out officer. I am locked in."
Forbes then made a second call shortly after midnight in which he was in a state of considerable distress. He said his brother had head-butted him and gone into the kitchen and got a knife.
Later, after arguing had resumed the younger brother said he thought Scott was going to hit him. Jeffrey grabbed the knife and stabbed his brother, penetrating the right hand side of his brother's body.
Police arrived at the house and Forbes told them: "My brother is in the other room. I don't know if he is breathing."
A paramedic called out to the scene found that the victim was not breathing and he was later declared dead.
Forbes later told police: "He pushed me too far. Why didn't he just leave me alone. It was a silly fight. I wish I had never invited him over. I only meant to scare him.”
The court heard that the pair had a long history of regularly falling out and making up.
Temporary judge John Morris QC deferred sentence on Forbes for a background report and remanded him in custody.
Last updated: 02 November 2009, 13:56
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