Man who killed brother-in-law in knife attack jailed

A man who killed his brother-in-law with a fatal knife wound to the heart has been jailed for six years and eight months.

Thomas Reilly, 44, stabbed Andrew Linton after a confrontation before contacting police to confess to the attack.

A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh told Reilly: “You armed yourself with a knife. At this time you were very drunk.”

Lady Scott said it was unclear how the knife came to be used but added: “What is clear is the knife you carried penetrated straight into the heart of your victim.”

She told Reilly that it was “a very serious culpable homicide” which had brought devastation to families.

The judge said that Reilly had shown “deep distress and remorse” over his actions in the wake of the 43-year-old’s death.

“On the same night you contacted the police and told them repeatedly you had stabbed the deceased and wanted to hand yourself in,” said Lady Scott.

The judge said she accepted that the offence was “entirely out of character” for Reilly, who has never been in trouble previously.

Lady Scott said: “I am satisfied that your conduct is rooted in alcohol. You were very drunk when you did this. You were also on medication at the time.

“She told Reilly he could have faced a 10 year sentence but his jail term would be reduced to reflect the early guilty plea he had offered.

Reilly earlier stood trial accused of murdering his brother-in-law on December 3 in 2019 at Skelbo Path, Lochend Road, Easterhouse, in Glasgow, but was convicted of the lesser offence of culpable homicide.

He had offered to plead guilty to the killing ahead of his trial.

The court heard that there was a long family history of arguments and Reilly went round to confront Mr Linton after arming himself.

After the stabbing he left the scene and disposed of the weapon.

He told police: “I have just killed someone I love. I have killed my brother-in-law. It should never have happened.”

Defence counsel Sarah Livingstone said that Reilly was anxious and suffered from depression and was on medication.

She said: “He has asked me to reiterate how sorry he is for what he did. There is not a day goes by when he does not think about his brother-in-law.”

The defence counsel said: “From a very early stage he has accepted his guilt and co-operated with the police.”

Reilly followed the sentencing proceedings via a video link to prison.