iStockA maths student who murdered his friend with a golf club has been jailed for life.
Ruaridh Levey bludgeoned Craig McNaught, 49, with the pitching wedge before stabbing him through the heart with the broken shaft.
The 41-year-old went on to take photos of his badly beaten victim “triumphant” at what he had done.
Levey claimed he had been acting in self defence during the incident at his home in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire on March 8 2023.
But, he was convicted of murder following the trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Lord Ericht ordered he must serve a minimum 18 years behind bars for what he described as a “brutal” killing.
The men had known each other for around 11 years and lived near each other in the town.
On the day of the murder, they ended up at the home of Levey, who studied at Forth Valley College in Alloa.
The pair socialised including playing Xbox games, watching YouTube and the WWE Royal Rumble as well as listening to music.
In his evidence, Levey said Mr McNaught eventually fell asleep, he sat watching TV before his friend awoke.
Moments later, the killer claimed it was Mr McNaught who suddenly grabbed him.
Levey: “He started to choke me. I was crawling on my hands and knees. I remember trying to shake him off.”
He stated Mr McNaught calmed down before allegedly grabbing the golf club and “whacking” the wedge off the floor breaking it.
Levey further claimed the man armed himself with another weapon.
He added: “My head was spinning. I thought I was going to die.”
Levey told jurors he then picked up the shaft of the broken club to protect himself.
He admitted he must have then stabbed his friend with the it during the confrontation, but not deliberately.
Levey eventually called an ambulance two hours later.
But, only after Levey took photos of his badly injured friend, who he reckoned was “sleeping”.
His KC Brian McConnachie put to him: “By the time you phoned 999, what did you think the situation was with him?”
Levey: “I thought he was gone, but I was hoping I was wrong.”
Prosecutors dismissed he was defending himself. He had also hid the broken club in a cupboard to conceal evidence.
Advocate depute Alan Parfery said: “If what you is saying is true, you could have ran for the door?”
Levey said: “I was traumatised.”
Levey claimed he did not “remember” causing the fatal wound.
Mr Parfery said: “Significant force was required to go all the way through Craig McNaught?”
Levey replied: “I do not know.”
Jurors were also shown graphic photos of Mr McNaught’s other injuries to his face and head.
Levey denied causing those with the club while it was still intact.
The prosecutor also asked: “At the time, you took the photos to boast of what you had done?”
Levey replied: “Comes across that way.”
Mr Parfery said Levey was “triumphant” that he had “won the fight”.
Sentencing, Lord Ericht told the killer: “You stabbed Craig McNaught in the back with a broken golf club shaft which pierced his right lung and heart before exiting through the front of his chest.
“The jury rejected self-defence. You committed a brutal murder.”
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