Man jailed for murdering partner's son in knife attack

A man has been jailed for at least 19 years after murdering the son of his then partner with a knife.

James Thomson repeatedly struck Callum Pollock, 22, with the blade on 6 July last year in Troon, Ayrshire.

Judge Lord Scott told the serial offender that he represented a danger to the public.

The 35-year-old had earlier denied murdering Mr Pollock but was convicted of the crime after a trial.

During the fatal attack Thomson punched his victim and struggled with him, before grabbing a knife.

He then punched, kicked and struck a door at the property with the blade in a bid to get into a room.

Once inside he repeatedly struck the victim with the knife, on the head and body.

Lord Scott said Mr Pollock, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was no threat to Thomson and had appeared to be trying to avoid a confrontation.

Sentencing the killer at the High Court in Edinburgh, he added: "Nothing can justify or explain what you did to him.

"You stopped only to change your clothes before fleeing."

The judge said he had read victim impact statements prepared by the father and grandfather of the deceased who had suffered "the devastating loss of a much loved son and grandson."

During his trial Thomson claimed Mr Pollock had fallen onto a blade during a struggle with him, despite having delivered a fatal blow to his neck.

The jury heard Thomson was at the flat in Troon with the victim and Mr Pollock's mother and football was on the television.

She told the court that later the atmosphere was "not good".

Thomson and Mr Pollock then had "a wee wrestle" before the killer stormed off to the kitchen.

Efforts were made to stop Thomson coming back into the living room but he "barged in like a raging bull" and attacked his victim.

He later got changed and fled the flat, before being seen at Troon train station strolling along a platform.

Defence counsel David Nicolson KC said Thomson had suffered adverse childhood experiences and alcohol later took a hold on his life.

He said the killer had written a letter in which he expressed his remorse and his devastation at the consequences of his actions.

Mr Nicolson said: "He is aware he will be in custody for a very long time."

Det Ch Insp Keith Runcie said he hoped the sentence would bring the victim's family some comfort.

He added: "Thomson will now face the consequences of his actions for carrying out a violent attack which resulted in the death of a young man."