A boxer who inflicted “grotesque injuries” on his neighbour by breaking every bone in the man’s face before stabbing him to death has been given a life sentence.
Shane Young, 22, struck Richard Marshall 40 times at his flat in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, on March 31, 2021.
The High Court in Glasgow heard how Young repeatedly punched and kicked Mr Marshall to the head and body causing a fracture to every bone in his face.
He then went on to arm himself with what was believed to be a screwdriver before plunging the weapon into Mr Marshall’s body.
Young then locked his bruised and bloodied victim in the flat and fled the scene - his actions delayed the response of emergency service workers who attempted to save Mr Marshall’s life.
A jury convicted Young of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, of murder. And on Thursday, Young observed proceedings at the High Court in Edinburgh via video link from prison where he had been placed on remand.
Judge Lord Young told the callous killer - who had plans to become a professional boxer prior to his crime - that he’d spend a minimum of 18 years behind bars.
Passing sentence, Lord Young - who had moments earlier heard a submission from defence lawyer Brian McConnachie KC - said: “You have been found guilty of the murder of Richard Marshall. This was a truly horrific attack.
“You inflicted horrific injuries on Mr Marshall - you fractured every bone in his face. You left him lying close to death in a room and you locked the door and that hampered the response of the emergency services.
“I have taken into account everything which your counsel Mr McConnachie has said on your behalf. However, the sentence of the court is fixed at life imprisonment. I will fix the punishment part for 18 years.”
At proceedings earlier this year, a jury at the High Court in Glasgow heard prosecutor Greg Farrell tell them that Young’s motive for the attack could have arisen from a disagreement between the pair about noise.
The court heard that Mr Marshall had tried to confront Young at his flat months earlier and he called the police. Mr Marshall's mother Betty told the jury in her evidence that she was also aware of a dispute about music.
She stated she was to go shopping with her son on the day of his murder. Mrs Marshall claimed that her son had initially came out to see her in her car before heading back inside to get changed.
But she said she was alarmed as she saw a man running from the building and she went to investigate. A 999 call was made and entry was later forced.
Officers found Mr Marshall in a pool of blood and was still breathing however life was pronounced extinct after medics worked on him for 40 minutes.
Young told the jury in his evidence that Mr Marshall had came to his door with a knife and that he suffered a hand injury trying to fend him off.
Young claimed he was initially hit with a lamp before a struggle took place between the pair. Young stated he “feared” for his life" and used to his "boxing training” to punch him twice.
He said Mr Marshall fell and hit his head against objects. Young then claimed it was Mr Marshall who picked up the screwdriver and tried to attack him with it but was able to disarm him.
On Thursday, at the High Court in Edinburgh, the court heard how social workers who had interviewed Young for a report found that he had a happy childhood and also had plans to join the army.
The court also heard that hew was a first offender and Mr McConnachie said his client had “acted out of character” during the incident.
The King’s Counsel also told Lord Young that he should consider sentencing guidelines for people aged under 25. These official guidelines state that young accused people should receive sentences focused on their rehabilitation due to a lack of maturity.
Mr McConnachie also said that his client wanted to pursue a career as a professional boxer and that he realised the impact that Mr Marshall’s death has had on his family.
He added: “Even although this was a catastrophic offence, it was nonetheless his first offence In the circumstances, Mr Young is concerned by the circumstances in which the family of the deceased find themselves in.
“He realises that the family of the deceased find themselves in their own life sentence in the sense that they have lost their son and loved one.
“These are a set of circumstances in which resulted in Mr Young acting entirely out of character.”
However, Lord Young told the accused that the only sentence available to court was life imprisonment as members of Mr Marshall’s family sat in court.
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