Pair admit murdering man over mistaken identity

Michael Beaton died in hospital after being found with serious injuries

Two men are facing life in prison after a man was killed in a case of mistaken identity in Inverclyde.

Michael Beaton, 35, was struck by a car driven by 21-year-old Richard Mullan and stabbed by Alexander McQuillan, 27, in Greenock on 26 November 2023.

However, the High Court in Glasgow heard how Mullan and the victim were actually targeting McQuillan that night.

During a chase, Mullan hit Mr Beaton while he was trying to hit co-accused McQuillan. McQuillan then stabbed Mr Beaton with a machete while he lay on the road badly injured.

The victim was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow but died from his injuries later the same day.

McQuillan and Mullan pled guilty to separate murder charges at earlier hearings.

Sentencing for the pair has been deferred until December in Inverness.

The car mounted the pavement on Drumfrochar Road in Greenock before smashing into Mr Beaton

Prosecutor David McLean KC revealed the background to events for the first time.

He said Mullan and Mr Beaton had been out in Greenock that night "apparently searching" for McQuillan.

The pair were in separate cars when they spotted McQuillan nearby.

McQuillan and an associate approached Mr Beaton's car, the victim got out of the car and there was a "verbal exchange" between the three men.

McQuillan and his friend ran off down Drumfochar Road as Mr Beaton chased on foot, with the engine to his Ford still running.

Mullan followed the three men in the stolen Audi at speed down the wrong side of the road.

The lawyer said: "Mullan intended to strike McQuillan, but instead hit Mr Beaton, who was thrown onto the far side of the road.

"A voice could be heard on a CCTV recording saying 'ha, ha, he has just done his own pal'."

Not realising his error, Mullan then ploughed into him a second time before racing off.

Meanwhile, McQuillan had taken refuge in a nearby building while witnesses went to help Mr Beaton.

He then approached with a machete which he used to attack the injured man.

Mr McLean said: "They heard McQuillan say to Mr Beaton 'You'll not do something like that again in a hurry'.

"He then struck him several times with the machete before moving away."

'Wickedly reckless'

McQuillan jumped into Mr Beaton's vehicle and initially stopped at a car park, before travelling to his sister's house and finally his own home.

Mr McLean added: "McQuillan's actions were, at least, wickedly reckless."

Mr Beaton was unconscious when taken to hospital but died after emergency surgery.

He had multiple injuries as a result of being hit by the Audi as well as a number of wounds from the machete.

The court heard how he died from a combination of injuries.

McQuillan already had a lengthy list of convictions and was once jailed for three years over an aggravated assault.

Mullan was arrested having initially gone to Spain after the killing.

Lord Cubie continued their remand in custody and deferred sentencing until 12 December in Inverness.

He told the pair they had each accepted murdering Mr Beaton in a "shocking way" and it was a "grotesque twist" that Mullan thought he had been driving at McQuillan.