Murder of man stabbed eight times in front of dad in Hamilton caught on CCTV

A man was caught on CCTV murdering another man in front of his father.

William Lewis, 56, stabbed William Copeland to death moments after the men appeared to embrace each other.

Lewis then turned the knife on the 36-year-old’s father, who uses a wheelchair, during the attack in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, on October 21 last year.

Lewis pleaded guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder as he appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.

He will learn the minimum he will spend in jail when he is sentenced in September.

Earlier on the day of the killing, Mr Copeland had been with his dad and another man when there had been a brief “verbal altercation” with Lewis.

The trio were later in the area of Hamilton’s Burnbank Centre when Lewis and a friend turned up.

Prosecutor David Logan said Mr Copeland seemed in “good spirits” with him seen “shaking hands and hugging” both Lewis and the other man.

But, within seconds, Lewis became aggressive and pulled out a purple-handled blade.

The CCTV footage of the attack was played during the hearing.

Mr Logan said: “Lewis, holding the knife in his left hand, stabbed William in the torso area while grabbing hold of him.”

The victim fell to the ground, but initially managed to get to his feet and stagger away a short distance.

Lewis, however, went after Mr Copeland, who again fell.

The prosecutor explained: “Lewis stood over him and stabbed him several times to the torso, head and neck area as he was on the ground.”

The footage captured Lewis pointing the weapon at Mr Copeland’s dad Thomas, who was then stabbed in the chest causing him to fall backwards off his chair.

The killer continued shouting before walking off and hiding the knife in his pocket.

Witnesses rushed to help both men with one giving CPR to Mr Copeland until paramedics arrived.

He did not survive having suffered eight stab wounds. Mr Logan said Mr Copeland had been the victim of a “sustained” attack.

Thomas was rushed to hospital where he received emergency surgery.

He was later eventually able to be discharged, but the court heard the murder has had a “traumatic effect” on both him and other relatives, especially witnessing his son being attacked in front of him.

The hearing was told Lewis had previous convictions including a high court drugs offence from 2000.

Lord Colbeck continued his remand in custody as the case was adjourned for reports.

In the aftermath of the killing, Mr Copeland’s sister Aggie Smith spoke of the family’s loss.

She said: “William would always be there for us. There are no words to describe how difficult this is.

“It really is soul-destroying. He would go out and play football with his nephews. William treated them as his own.”