Two jailed for life for murdering man in 'violent retribution'

Two men who stabbed a man to death on his own doorstep have been given life sentences for murder.

Marshall Strachan and Kieran Lindsay, both 21, attacked 44-year-old John Taylor in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, on 18 October 2024.

The attack took place during an apparent issue between Lindsay and Taylor. Judge Lord Arthurson said Lindsay had instigated the crime, though it was executed by Strachan, and he had made "no distinction" between the pair.

The pair were convicted of murder following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow last month.

Lord Arthurson sentenced the first offenders to a minimum of 18 years in jail.

He said: "This was a pre-planned, targeted, violent retribution.

"You effectively disembowelled a man who was outside his home address in a single blow attack while one of you were masked."

Lord Arthurson added: "He was a beloved father, son and brother and his death has left an unfillable void for those who loved him."

The court was told that another man, 29-year-old Kiey O'Connor, drove Strachan and Lindsay to Taylor's home on Pollock Crescent but was unaware of what was to take place.

Jurors heard that Lindsay and Strachan left the vehicle and Strachan was seen wearing a snood.

The men were out of CCTV camera shot for a period of one minute and 56 seconds at about 01:12.

Prosecutor Erin Campbell said: "During this time, they attended the door of John Taylor.

"While there, Marshall Strachan stabbed John Taylor to the abdomen."

The victim's friend and neighbour Fiona Houston saw the two men at his door. Taylor had answered the door and gone down the first step.

She believed one of the men had punched Taylor after a conversation. He was later found at his doorstep with a significant stab wound and died at the scene.

The prosecutor told jurors in her closing speech: "Strachan ran away down the lane while Lindsay walked, simply walked, with his hands in his pockets, and went back to the car and got in.

"The car then drove away to where Strachan had stopped running and he got in the car."

O'Connor was told by Lindsay to drop them off at an area in Kilwinning called the waterpath.

Campbell said Strachan and Lindsay "casually" walked to a grassed area 17 minutes later, where they "burned potential evidence".

She added: "Is that the actions of panicked people dealing with an unexpected situation or was it a plan?"

She said O'Connor was "unaware" of what had happened at the property.

The advocate depute said: "He became aware through his brother that someone had been stabbed."

O'Connor later sold the Volkswagen Polo car for £40 to his friend David Morrison before the vehicle was put on Facebook Marketplace.

Call records revealed that O'Connor had searched the opening times for Saltcoats police office and had attempted to dial 101.

He was later arrested and charged with the murder, but the charge was later dropped. He gave evidence which assisted the Crown at the trial of Lindsay and Strachan.

He pleaded guilty to two charges relating to the supply of drugs and to a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Defence KC John Scullion told the court that Lindsay "bitterly regrets" the decision he took, adding: "There is remorse for the loss of life."

Donald Findlay KC, defending Strachan, said: "Whatever happened, there was no intention on his part that day - it did not cross his mind that anything as serious as the death of a human being would occur."

Police previously called the case a "brutal, pre-meditated and targeted murder".