John Young jailed after murdering James Hynes by repeatedly hitting him with hammer over argument

A man who murdered his friend after they fell out with each other has been given a life sentence for the brutal crime.

John Young, 33, struck James Hynes, 46, on the head with hammer “nine or ten times’ as he lay on the ground at Jackson Place in Livingston, West Lothian, on July 21 2023.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Young had fallen out with Mr Hynes over “various issues” earlier that month.

Prosecutor Colin Edward told judge Lady Haldane that Mr Hynes was in bed with his partner when Young started banglng loudly on the window of the property.

Mr Edward said: “He was very intoxicated. James Hynes woke up and went outside.

“A fight ensued. James Hynes was armed with a hammer. He struck the accused with the hammer.

“At one point in the fight, the accused wrestled the hammer from James Hynes. The fight ended with the deceased lying on the ground and the accused walking away holding the hammer.

“The accused then walked back towards James Hynes saying ‘I’m gonna kill you, i’m gonna kill you.’

“He struck James Hynes on the head and body nine or ten tines with the hammer as he lay on the ground. The accused then walked away.”

The story emerged after Young, also of Livingston, pleaded guilty last month to murdering Mr Hynes in a hearing held before Lady Haldane.

On Tuesday, Young’s case called again in court and he observed proceedings via video link, listening to his lawyer Shelagh McCall KC speak of his remorse.

Passing sentence, Lady Haldane told Young he’d have to serve at least 15 years before he’d become eligible for parole.

She had been told that Mr Hynes’s family were grieving the loss of their loved one.

She said: “This was a brutal attack in which you used a hammer on a man who was lying on the ground.

“There is nothing I can say or do which can truly reflect their loss or the pain that they have suffered.

“I set the punishment part at one of 15 years.”

At earlier proceedings, Mr Edward told the court that the attack was captured on CCTV cameras and that the footage would be played to her.

Lady Haldane warned members of the public sitting in court that the images were explicit and could upset them. She said they were free to leave court.

Mr Edward told the court that Mr Hynes’s partner found him lying in the street and called for an ambulance.

The medics found him “alive but with severe head injuries.”

The court heard that doctors at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary found Mr Hynes had “multiple” skull fractures with bleeding and bruising on his brain.

They also found he had a “traumatic brain injury” and “facial bone fractures.”

Mr Edward added: “He also had a fracture of the eye socket, multiple rib fractures and a fractured breastbone.

“He required surgery to remove part of his skull to alleviate pressure on the brain. He was placed in an induced coma, intubated and remained in intensive care.”

However, Mr Edward said that Mr Hynes suffered a large bleed on his brain on August 17 2023 which led to “global irreversible brain injury.”

The advocate depute added: “His condition was deemed unsurvivable.

“On August 19 2023, after discussions with his family, life support was withdrawn. He died later that day.

“The cause of death was complication from blunt force head trauma.”

On Tuesday, Ms McCall told the court that her client had suffered many “adverse” childhood experiences and that he had tried to cope with this by “self medicating” with drink and drugs.

She said that Young was sorry for taking Mr Hynes’s life.

Ms McCall added: “He also wants me to convey his remorse at what he has done to Mr Hynes and for the suffering he has caused to his family.

“He wishes me to express this in the setting of the public court.”

In passing sentence, Lady Haldane urged Young to learn from his actions.

She added: “I take account of the remorse that you have expressed and the intention that you have expressed to become a productive member of society upon your release.

“I strongly encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities.”