Man killed neighbour in 'trivial' row over parking

A man killed his neighbour after a parking row turned violent during coronavirus lockdown.

Craig McCarroll, 29, stabbed Thomas Nelson to death on April 14 this year over a dispute described as “ridiculously trivial”.

The pair had been long-time friends and lived next door to each other with their families in Wishaw, Lanarkshire.

But, they had a fall-out when people going to Mr Nelson’s home started leaving their vehicles next to McCarroll’s house.

McCarroll faced a murder allegation at the High Court in Glasgow. But, prosecutors accepted his guilty plea to the reduced charge of culpable homicide.

A judge heard how McCarroll is “haunted” by causing the death of 24-year-old Mr Nelson.

The ex-warehouse worker will be sentenced in the New Year.

Prosecutor Shanti Maguire told the hearing: “McCarroll had a dispute with Mr Nelson in connection with his friends parking outside his property a few weeks prior to this incident.”

In the hours before the killing, McCarroll made “derogatory” remarks about Mr Nelson and “repeatedly threatened violence” towards him.

It appeared there would be a fight between the men.

A woman who knew the pair sent a message to McCarroll telling him to “leave it” and that she was “fed up” what was going on.

But, Ms Maguire told the court: “He responded by saying he was responsible for his own actions and did not need her advice.”

Mr Nelson was later described as being “quite agitated”.

Around 2am, McCarroll’s mum spotted Mr Nelson on her path in the town’s Carron Street and she followed her son outside.

Mr Nelson was said to have hit McCarroll before he retaliated and both ended up on the ground.

Each of their mums yelled at them to get back inside.

The sound of someone fall against a car was heard before McCarroll was seen on top of Mr Nelson.

The bleeding victim was soon found “gurgling and unconscious” as McCarroll’s parents dragged the killer indoors.

Ms Maguire said: “Mr Nelson’s mother made a 999 call where she is heard to be highly distressed and that she thought her son was dying.”

Mr Nelson never recovered having been stabbed in the heart.

The court heard the culpable homicide plea was accepted on the grounds of provocation.

But, it was stated McCarroll used “excessive violence”, which went further “than was necessary to protect himself”.

Tony Graham QC, defending, said: “He has taken the life of someone, who, for considerable years, was his friend.

“It was a ridiculously trivial dispute which escalated.”

The advocate said “parking was at the root of this”.

Mr Graham stated McCarroll often missed taxis due to take him to work late at night because friends of Mr Nelson had parked at the killer’s home.

The QC said: “He (McCarroll) said he is haunted by his own thoughts and the consequences of what has taken place.”

Lord Mattews remanded McCarroll in custody and deferred sentencing for reports.