Ex-soldier Daniel Langman jailed for life after strangling daughter's partner to death at Port Glasgow flat

A man who hit his daughter’s partner with a guitar before strangling him to death has been jailed for life.

Daniel Langman strangled Anthony Collins, 28, during an attack at his flat in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, on May 16, 2021.

On Monday at the High Court in Glasgow, Langman was jailed for a minimum of 17 and a half years.

Lord Fairley told him: “It is quite clear to me from the statement produced by Anthony Collins’ elder sister that his death is deeply felt both by her and other members of his family.”

The judge warned Langman – a Northern Veteran – that he will not automatically be freed at the end of the 17 and a half years with the Parole Board making the decision.

Following the death of Mr Collins, the Northern Ireland veteran had denied murder.

However, jurors found him guilty on Monday, April 17, while co-accused Anthony McGovern, 36, was found not proven of the same charge.

The 48-year-old previously told how he “lost control” after finding his home in disarray that night.

Langman then went on to smack Mr Collins up to four times with his guitar.

He went on to punch him before claiming his mind went “hazy” about what then occurred.

Langman told jurors: “I remember Anthony McGovern screaming at me. I realised that I was on top of him (the victim) strangling him.”

Prosecutors stated Mr Collins was choked by a cable being tightened around his neck.

He was also said to have been struck with the guitar, an iron, metal poles, a plastic tube and a screwdriver.

Langman said he wrapped the stricken victim in a duvet, but denied that was to cover the horror of what he had done.

He told jurors he had not meant to kill the man.

But the trial heard how Langman called his mother Jennifer Goodwin after the killing, who described him as upset and crying.

The 67-year-old said: “He told me that he had done something stupid.

“He said he went home and a man was in his flat. They got into a fight and he thought things went too far.

“He told me that he was going to hand himself into the police station.”

Donald Findlay KC, defending, told the sentencing hearing: “He has accepted that he lost control and that his actions went way beyond anything that he had contemplated.”

Detective inspector Nikki Wake, of Greenock CID, said: “This was a brutal attack that has left Anthony’s family absolutely devastated and our thoughts remain with them at this extremely difficult time.

“While nothing can change what has happened, I hope that this conviction brings at least a degree of closure for his relatives and friends.

“Langman will now have to face the consequences of his actions.

“I would like to thank Anthony’s family, friends and those in the wider community who helped officers during this enquiry.”