Three guilty of murdering grandfather in Glasgow flat
- Published
Brian Maley was murdered at his flat in Springburn
Two men and a woman have been convicted of murdering a grandfather in his Glasgow flat.
Brian Maley was stabbed with a knife and a chisel during the attack at his home in Springburn on 8 February 2022.
Maria Gardiner, Michael Anderson and James Houston had denied killing the 52-year-old but were captured on CCTV getting a taxi to the property.
Lord Fairley warned the trio they face life sentences when they are sentenced in March.
Gardiner, 47, Houston, 35, and Anderson, 40, were also found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of assaulting Lynsey Patterson to her injury at the flat.
In his evidence, Houston told his KC Murray Macara: "I am sorry to the family. I never knew that someone was going to be assaulted, knifed or murdered."
He said Anderson had apparently gone to Mr Maley's flat in Young Terrace to "collect something owed to him".
Jurors had watched footage of the group initially walking from Govan into the city centre before getting a taxi to Mr Maley's home armed with a toolbox.
Once inside the flat the court heard they launched a brutal attack on Mr Maley and Ms Patterson.
'Fake bravado'
Gardiner and Houston were later arrested at a city centre hotel having spent Valentine's Day together.
Houston said he had "been played" and was just an "innocent bystander".
He also dismissed a text that he sent about fighting as "fake bravado".
Houston said: "If I knew that was going to happen, I would not have gone at all. Michael just said 'go with me' and I went."
After the verdict, prosecutor Michael Macintosh said: "Brian Maley was eagerly awaiting the birth of his first grandson at the time.
"He is survived by three adult daughters - two who have attended the trial each day.
"He is also survived by six grandchildren. The youngest was born just before this trial commenced."
Lord Fairley adjourned sentencing for reports.
Related Topics
- Published16 February 2022
- Published10 February 2022
