Man who killed nephew sent to psychiatric hospital

Erlend Fraser admitted culpable homicide at the High Court in Glasgow in July

A man who stabbed his nephew to death has been ordered to be held at a high security psychiatric hospital under a compulsion order.

Erlend Fraser, 50, killed William Fraser, 21, at his home in St Margaret's Hope, Orkney.

He inflicted 20 stab wounds on his nephew in the attack in June last year.

A judge said that it would be a "benefit rather than a punishment" for Erland Fraser to be sent to the hospital.

Lord Matthews heard how the killing had a devastating impact on William Fraser's parents and sisters.

Erlend Fraser had faced a murder charge, but the High Court in Glasgow heard that he had a learning disability and accepted a guilty plea to the lesser charge of culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The court heard that the pair had been friends before William Fraser turned up at his uncle's door on the night of the killing.

Erlend Fraser claimed his nephew had been "aggressive" and violent and that was why he reacted.

Lord Matthews told him that after reading reports and hearing from a forensic psychiatrist, imposing a compulsion order with restrictions on his discharge was appropriate.

He said: "This is for your benefit rather than a punishment for what you did."

The judge said he hoped Fraser would comply with what was being offered at the State Hospital at Carstairs.

Any decision to allow him access to the community in future would be under conditions set by a tribunal.

Defence counsel Michael Meehan KC told the court that there was no opposition to the making of an order.