Man faces life sentence for 'abhorrent' murder

A judge told Michael Joyce he faces a life sentence for murder

A 33-year-old man is facing a life sentence after being found guilty of the "utterly abhorrent" murder of another man at a house in Kyle of Lochalsh in the Highlands.

A jury at the High Court in Edinburgh convicted Michael Joyce of attacking Michael White, 61, in April last year.

Joyce's partner, mother-of-four Antonia Gunn, 28, was acquitted of the charge on a unanimous not proven verdict.

The Crown withdrew other charges, including one brought under human trafficking and exploitation legislation.

Mr White was attacked at a house in Kyle of Lochalsh

It had originally been alleged that Mr White was kept in servitude and was instructed to transfer money to Joyce and Ms Gunn and drive them to appointments.

Joyce denied murdering Mr White by repeatedly striking him and inflicting blunt force trauma injuries to his head and body on 22 or 23 April last year.

The court heard that forensic pathologists who examined Mr White's body found rib fractures and internal injuries.

The experts concluded the cause of his death was complications of blunt force trauma and heart disease.

The court heard Mr White was emaciated and had peritonitis, a painful inflammation of the lining of his abdomen.

During the trial, a witness described seeing Joyce punching Mr White in the stomach.

Judge Lady Poole told Joyce: "You have been convicted by the jury of murdering a 61-year-old man.

"The court also heard about your conduct towards him prior to his death."

She added: "Michael White's past association with you is a tragedy for him and his family."

Lady Poole told Joyce he faced a life sentence and she deferred sentencing until 5 December for the preparation of a background report.

The judge told jurors it had been "a serious, distressing and unpleasant" case.

After the verdict, the jury heard that Joyce had previous convictions, including for crimes of violence and dishonesty.

Formally acquitted

Joyce and Ms Gunn had originally faced further charges, including one brought under human trafficking and exploitation legislation.

The Crown accused them of holding Mr White in servitude between May 2021 and April last year.

It was alleged they instructed him to transfer his money to them, pay for food shopping and drive them to appointments and to request money from family and friends for their benefit.

It was also alleged that they instructed him to enter legal proceedings for the sale of a guest house Mr White had owned with his late wife.

They were also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of cushions, towels and a T-shirt worn by Mr White, deleting photographs, placing a marriage certificate and photographs of Mr White and his late wife around his body and pretending they found the body and he had taken his own life.

The Crown withdrew those charges during the trial and the judge formally acquitted Joyce and Ms Gunn of the offences.

Face the consequences

Following the trial, Police Scotland said Joyce's actions towards Mr White were "utterly abhorrent".

Det Insp Richard Baird said: "Initially following the death he attempted to present himself as a friend of Mr White, and it was only after a post-mortem that it became apparent he had in fact died as a result of injuries he had inflicted.

"We welcome this conviction and, while this cannot change what happened, Joyce will now face the consequences of his actions."