Killer murdered dad-of-three 'to get dream job' as government assassin

A killer who murdered a father-of-three in a knife attack after luring the victim to the scene told police: “Just as well you caught me, I was going to do another one”.

Connor Manners murdered Gary Nicol after arranging to meet him through a dating app while posing as a 16-year-old boy.

The 27-year-old, also known as Thom, stabbed and slashed Mr Nichol before leaving him to die at the side of the road in Livingston on September 26, 2024.

Manners later said to a psychiatrist that he wanted to get caught so that he could get his “dream job” as an assassin for the government.

Gary Nicol from Livingston was pronounced dead at the scene on Bankton Lane Police Scotland

He claimed that he left clues for the police to find him after he murdered Gary Nicol so that he could “get a foot in the industry”.

Manners, 27, also known as Thom, was told that he would be sentenced to life imprisonment after he admitted to murdering Mr Nicol by repeatedly striking him on the body with a knife at Bankton Lane.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that in the early hours of the morning, a driver saw Mr Nicol’s car parked at the side of the road with his body lying next to the vehicle.

She called the emergency services, and when paramedics arrived at the scene, they immediately realised that the victim was dead.

A post mortem was carried out the following day, and he was found to have died from stab wounds to the neck and chest.

He was found to have sustained two slash wounds to his neck, six stab wounds to the left side of his neck, one of which punctured his jugular vein, and four stab wounds to the left side of his chest.

Manners points police to evidence in ‘black bag’

Advocate depute Alan Cameron KC said that a police investigation into the death led to suspicion focusing on Manners, and on October 11, 2024, officers went to his home.

After he was cautioned, Manners said to them: “I am surprised it took you so long to be honest.”

He added: “All the evidence you need is in a black bag in the kitchen.”

He said: “The knife that is stuck in the wall is the knife that was used.”

He also said: “I’m sorry for what’s happened, send condolences to the family.”

Mr Cameron said that the knife Manners referred to was stuck in a wall, holding up a piece of paper titled “assassin checklist”.

It contained a number of bullet points for MMA training, self-defence training, studying human anatomy, studying serial killers, unsolved/cold cases, forensics and how police and law operate.

It also had a heading for “practice and train in stealth weaponry, knives, wire, poison, chemicals and guerella (sic) tactics”.

Mr Cameron said: “Within the black bag which the accused mentioned to officers were various items of clothing and shoes which were stained with Mr Nicol’s blood.”

The prosecutor said: “Also found within the accused’s home were the keys to Mr Nicol’s car and house.”

Manners was taken to Livingston police station, and while he was being processed, announced: “Just as well you caught me, I was going to do another one.”

He was seen by a forensic psychiatrist who concluded that he was unfit to be interviewed.

Mr Cameron said: “He told her a number of things when she spoke to him that day. These included that he had killed a number of other people before. He provided some details about the purported killings. Subsequent police investigation found no evidence that they had occurred.”

The prosecutor said: “The accused said that on this occasion he had wanted to get caught in order that he could get his dream job as an assassin for a government or governmental agency.”

After he was remanded in custody, Manners made further comments in a call with his mother.

Mr Cameron said: “He told her that he had shot Mr Nicol with a crossbow, repeatedly stabbed him and slashed his throat.”

The prosecutor said: “The post mortem examination does not suggest that Mr Nicol was struck with a crossbow bolt, but one was recovered in the woods close to where his body was found. A crossbow and bolts were found during a search of the accused’s home.”

He told the court: “While there are no witnesses who can describe what happened when Mr Nicol and the deceased met, it is clear that the accused lured him there with an intention to do him harm.”

“He went to the meeting armed with a knife and a crossbow and repeatedly struck Mr Nicol, causing his death.”

Killer set up account on dating app

The court heard that Manners and Mr Nicol were previously unknown to each other.

Manners had created an account on Grindr, a LGBTQ dating app, but did not use it until 10pm on September 25, 2024 when he posed as a 16-year-old male.

He contacted the HGV driver, and arrangements were made to meet at Williamston Primary School in Livingston.

Manners had spent several months in the high-security State Hospital in Carstairs, Lanarkshire, before being returned to prison at HMP Addiewell in West Lothian.

Defence counsel Ian Duguid KC said: “He does suffer from what is described as a personality disorder.”

Mr Duguid said Manners is currently prescribed anti psychotic medication.

The judge Lord Renucci said to Manners: “You pleaded guilty to a charge of murder. In due course, there is only one sentence which will be a life sentence.”

He adjourned the case for the preparation of a background report on Manners, who will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on July 17, 2026.