Man murdered disabled victim with hammer in his Coatbridge home

A man has been convicted of murdering a disabled victim in his home with a hammer.

Stephen Thomson attacked defenceless Peter Morgan, 60, at the flat in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, on November 19, 2021.

A jury heard how the 26-year-old appeared to laugh when later arrested and claimed: “What is going on anyway? I was at my mate’s house.”

Thomson was convicted of murder following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.

He will be sentenced when he returns to the dock next month.

The court heard how Thomson had ended up at Mr Morgan’s home that night along with the victim’s friend William Keys.

Neighbour Sean Henderson recalled a commotion around midnight.

The 28-year-old electrician told the trial: “It was really powerful banging.

“The building was shaking. It was almost as if someone was jumping up and down.”

The witness said he heard a man stating: “See if I find out…”

The same voice then later added: “There is no point bubbling now.”

Mr Henderson said he also picked up an older man – not Mr Morgan – saying at one stage: “That’s enough, that’s enough.”

The witness told prosecutor Chris McKenna he did not hear his neighbour.

Asked if he had any concerns about him, Mr Henderson said: “Yes – that maybe he was being attacked… (he) is in a wheelchair and cannot defend himself.”

Mr Henderson dialled 999 for help.

He recalled the banging stopped before spotting a man wearing a Rangers top and carrying a rucksack “kind of walking fast” as he left the building.

The killer then turned up unexpectedly at a woman’s home still in possession of a hammer and with marks on his face.

She recalled he “went into the kitchen and made some pasta” before going to the bathroom for around 15 minutes.

Thomson was repeatedly told to leave. After he fled, police appeared and searched the flat.

The murder weapon was discovered hidden behind a toilet with a rucksack stashed next to a couch.

Peter meantime suffered severe head injuries and passed away at University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie, Lanarkshire five days later.

Thomson did not give evidence during the trial.

But, prosecutor Mr McKenna told jurors Thomson had repeatedly lied to police including claiming he did not know Mr Morgan, where the victim’s flat was or had any knowledge of the hammer.

The advocate depute said there was a “convincing and compelling case” of murder against the thug.

After the verdict, it emerged Thomson had previous convictions for assault, domestic violence and possession of a blade.

Lord Young told him: “The only sentence for murder is life imprisonment.”

Thomson – who gave a thumbs up to a man in court as he was taken to the cells – will return to the dock on July 17 in Livingston.