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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Grant McCabe

Lanarkshire thug fatally stabbed 'good friend' in heart after he came 'charging' at him

A thug is behind bars after stabbing his "good friend" to death.

Stuart Dunsmore, 50, fatally attacked David Devine at a house in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire on August 20 2021.

The 41 year-old dad - known as Davie - never recovered having been knifed in the heart and died days later in hospital. Dunsmore had told jurors David had come at him with a blade for no apparent reason and that he had grabbed another lying nearby to try and get away.

He denied murder during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Dunsmore was instead convicted of the reduced charge of culpable homicide under provocation.

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He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.

Dunsmore told his KC Tony Graham how the men and others had been at the house "having a good blether" and listening to music.

The defence advocate asked: "How were things?"

Dunsmore: "Perfect."

But, the court was told "something obviously changed".

Dunsmore said David went outside to speak to someone in a car and when he returned accused the killer of "growling" at him.

Dunsmore added: "I thought something must have happened at the car. I thought I would be able to calm him down.

"He was my pal Davie...he was a good friend of mine."

Dunsmore alleged David then came "charging" at him with a blade with his "eyes wide and foaming at the mouth".

He recalled then grabbing a "fillet knife" himself, running towards the front door and getting out in "pure shock". Dunsmore claimed he did not see himself striking David in the process.

His lawyer Mr Graham later asked him: "Morally, you have taken a life.

"How does that make you feel?"

Dunsmore: "Not too good. My brother died in 2019 and, from then, I had a spiritual awareness and tried to turn to Christianity.

"This then happened. I am not happy."

Asked if he could done anything differently, Dunsmore: "Hindsight is a great thing, but I do not think so."

Prosecutor Mark Mohammed later accused him of "making up" claims.

Mr Mohammed said he had instead been in a "fist fight" with David and that Dunsmore was the only one with a knife.

Dunsmore denied this adding: "We were not fighting, I promise."

Lord Armstrong deferred sentencing until April 28 in Lanark.

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