Man killed after asking rapping drug user to 'quieten down'

A man was killed after asking a drug user who was rapping to "quieten down" in an Aberdeenshire town, a court has heard.

Steven Leask, 45, held down 36-year-old Martin Forgie, repeatedly punched him in the face and kicked him in the head. Leask paused during the assault to smoke crack cocaine.

His victim lost consciousness during the assault at his home in Ellon, and Leask later said: "I think I've killed someone."

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Leask admitted killing Forgie in the attack. Sentence was deferred for background reports.

Advocate depute Margaret Barron said the victim lived alone at the Gordon Place address and was regarded as vulnerable.

Leask, formerly of Peterhead, knew a neighbour of Forgie and was visiting him.

As they passed Forgie's window he asked them to buy him a bottle of whisky, which they agreed to do.

They later went to his house, where Leask smoked crack cocaine and the victim drank the whisky.

The prosecutor said: "The accused began to sing rap, which annoyed Martin Forgie."

She said he said it was getting out of hand, and he asked Leask to quieten down.

The advocate depute said: "Martin Forgie was sitting on the sofa in the living room. The accused then pinned Martin Forgie to the sofa. The accused was seen to have his left forearm across Martin Forgie's throat.

"The accused was heard to repeatedly say to Martin Forgie 'apologise' to which he replied a couple of times 'I am not apologising'.

"Whilst still being held down by the accused with his arm across his throat, Martin Forgie was seen to be choking and was unable to move as the accused was on top of him."

The prosecutor said: "The accused then repeatedly punched Martin Forgie to the face. The accused was described as angry and being 'tunnel visioned' on Martin Forgie."

She said Leask continued to punch his victim.

"Martin Forgie was slumped in the corner of the sofa," she told the court.

"The accused smoked what was left in his crack pipe and then took a run up and kicked Martin Forgie in the face, which landed square on his chin. Martin Forgie lost consciousness."

The alarm was raised, and when an ambulance crew arrived they began CPR, but the victim could not be saved.

Leask was traced by police, and responded: "There was a carry on at the address."

Judge Lord Summers deferred sentence on Leask for the preparation of a background report.

The family of the victim - who was from Maud in Aberdeenshire - said in a statement at the time: "Martin was a much loved son, brother, father, nephew, grandson and uncle. He will be greatly missed."