Man found guilty of 'battering life' out of mum's ex

John Forsyth left Barry Evans with "catastrophic and unsurvivable" injuries

A man who "battered the life" out of his mother's ex-partner has been found guilty over his death.

John Forsyth left Barry Evans with "catastrophic and unsurvivable" injuries including a blood clot on the brain in the unprovoked attack at his mother's home in Wishaw in 2022.

Forsyth, 29, had claimed to be acting in self-defence after alleging Mr Evans, who was 47, "lunged" at him.

But a jury found him guilty of culpable homicide following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Mr Evans had been the partner of Forsyth's mother about 10 years ago, the court heard.

He was said to have been badly affected by losing his job and was taking medication for anxiety at the time of his death.

Mr Evans had also been in hospital the day before the attack.

The court heard Mr Evans had ended up at Forsyth's mother's house while she was out.

Another of her children had returned to the home where he found Mr Evans lying on the bed with his dog in the house.

The court heard Forsyth later arrived to "deal with" Mr Evans.

Mr Evans sustained jaw fractures, broken teeth, black eyes and extensive bruising during the attack.

He died in hospital two days later, having suffered repeated blunt force trauma to the head and body by means unknown.

'Petrified'

Forsyth stated during a 999 call that "a random person" he assaulted was "dying". He claimed not to know who the man was.

The court heard Forsyth's brother had sent a text message to their sister stating: "Johnny's just battered the life out of him."

Prosecutor Vish Kathuria said Forsyth "boasted" about "battering" someone who had "broke into his mum's house" during prison phone calls after he was held over Mr Evans' death.

Forsyth accepted assaulting Mr Evans and had left him in "some nick" - but insisted he had been defending himself.

He claimed in his evidence that he had been "petrified" at his mum's house and that there had been "a reaction".

Lord Young remanded Forsyth in custody following the verdict.

Sentencing was adjourned until next month.