Remote control row killer 'will never be forgiven'

Scott Thomson fled his Wythenshawe flat but later turned himself in

The son of a man who was stabbed to death following a row about a TV remote control has said he will "never forgive" his dad's killer.

James Murray, 47, collapsed and died on 4 December 2024 on Whitburn Road in Wythenshawe, said Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

Detectives followed a trail of blood back to Scott Thomson's flat on Skye Walk and found evidence of a violent encounter.

The 57-year-old, who was found guilty of murder, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Friday to 18 years in prison.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Murray's son said there was "no way to fully express the depth of pain and loss that my father's murder has caused".

He added: "I want Scott Thomson to know his actions will never be forgotten or forgiven."

'Never replaced'

The court heard that an argument had "escalated" between Thomson and Mr Murray over TV remote control.

Thomson stabbed Mr Murray before fleeing his flat.

He was arrested the following day after turning himself in.

A post-mortem found Mr Murray died from a single stab wound to the chest.

In his victim impact statement, Mr Murray's son, whose name was not provided by police, paid tribute to his dad.

He said: "He brought joy and light into every room he entered. He may not have been an angel, he may not have lived the best life, but he was my dad.

"Since the day he was taken from us, my life has changed completely. I am constantly reminded of what has happened.

"I consistently feel the pain of his murder, there is not a day that goes by that I don't feel the weight of his absence.

"The loss of his life is greater than just the loss of a person, it's the loss of time, connection, and a relationship that can never be replaced."

Senior Investigating Officer Duncan Thorpe said the murder was "a tragic and totally avoidable incident that highlights the devastating impact knife crime can have.

"There is no doubt that this issue could have been resolved without weapons."